Piles of math worksheets. Mountains of required reading. Memorizing the entire periodic table, the various Kings of England, and conjugations of the Spanish verb “to be?” It’s no wonder kids are exhausted by the end of the school year! But, smart parents know that kids can’t simply “take off” from learning all summer long.
In fact, summer is the perfect opportunity for kids to learn something new. Long, uninterrupted blocks of pressure-free time create an ideal atmosphere, absent of the rote memorization and test anxiety that are all too common during the school year. And, parents can use these free months to foster real creativity.
But, what is creativity, exactly?
According to author Mary Ann Kohl, “Creativity focuses on the process of forming original ideas through exploration and discovery. In children, creativity develops from their experiences with the process, rather than concern for the finished product. Creativity is not to be confused with talent, skill, or intelligence. Creativity is not about doing something better than others, it is about thinking, exploring, discovering, and imagining.”
That judgement-free flexibility in thinking helps drive enthusiastic engagement by children of all ages. Summertime access to art supplies, craft materials, cameras and video cams, as at-home science and nature projects, and even woodworking or gardening supplies is crucial. And enrichment opportunities like museum visits, nature hikes, and trying a new ethnic cuisine are a few simple ways to expand kids’ horizons.
Diane Cadiergue, Senior Chief Editor at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) explains it this way, “Enrichment experiences make flexible thinkers. Exposure to different cultures, settings, languages, and other non-familiar experiences stimulate open-mindedness and hone divergent thinking abilities. Such experiences allow young minds to “change domains quickly and flexibly.”
Creativity and kids’ educational enrichment options in Nationwide
This summer, why not expose children to drama, music, art, photography, or even a foreign language and culture? Back to Basics Learning Dynamics offers exciting enrichment options for every age and interest.
For a list of summer options for your student CLICK HERE.
