Summer is an important time to stay involved with your child's education. It is also important to make sure your child is physically active. Not only is summer a great opportunity to show children that learning and reading are not things that you do just in the classroom, it's also a perfect time to teach children about making healthy lifestyle choices. Use the information that you find here to encourage your child to read and remain active during the summer.
Suggestions for Encouraging Summer Reading
1. Share your reading experiences. Read some of the books you enjoyed when you were your child's age. Ask friends and relatives for book suggestions, then share them with your child.
2. Visit the library. Find books that match your child's specific interests. Ask a librarian which books are popular with children in your child's grade.
3. Encourage your child to read a variety of materials. Help your child understand directions by reading manuals and maps, or allow him or her to help you cook a meal by reading a recipe.
4. Show your child that you like to read. Sit down with a book, newspaper, or magazine. After dinner, share the stories and ideas you read.
5. Relate reading to real life. Help your child read current events from a newspaper or news Web site. Or, help him or her find Internet articles about topics he or she has studied in school.
6. Schedule routine reading. Schedule time for reading several times a week. You can read a book to your child, or you can read short stories on designated nights of the week.
Suggestions for Encouraging Summer Fitness
1. Make exercise fun. Provide plenty of praise and support to get children excited to play.
2. Make exercise a part of the daily routine. Set aside time each day to be physically active.
3. Let children have free time to play. Many children are naturally active and exercise without realizing it.
4. Limit TV and computer time. Encourage children to play outdoors. Or, choose an activity that you can do together.
5. Set a good example. Be a positive role model by engaging in regular physical activity and making healthy lifestyle choices.
6. Encourage your children to try a variety of activities. Not only does this help children improve in all three areas of physical fitness (strength, endurance, and flexibility), it increases the odds that they will find an activity that they enjoy.
7. Exercise with your children. You'll both feel good about being active, and your children will enjoy spending time with you!
