Summer Fun
Thursday, June 19th, 2008As the temperatures are dropping here in Merredin, the opposite side of the world is enjoying the warmth of summer. I was just reading some emails and one of them from ‘The Old Schoolhouse’ was titled “Summer Fun”. It struck me as weird as I’m freezing my hands off here, so I thought I’d read it. One contributor’s article I found valuable, no matter what time of the year or season it is. Enjoy the read.
It’s Just Common Sense
Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist
I’m not going to add to the summer fun ideas that is the topic for this week. Instead, I’m going to suggest that you turn off your schooling mindset sometimes this summer. Do things for yourself and let the children do for themselves.Homeschool kids aren’t usually the ones who say “I’m bored. What can I do?” But if one ever does, he needs to learn how to get unbored without somebody planning all his time for him.
Children need “downtime.” They can wander from thought to thought or from activity to activity. Free play in the back yard or wherever develops thinking skills. And thinking on their own develops creativity. That’s not to say that you’ll see something creative come out of a free summer afternoon, but what transpires in the brain develops creativity anyway. This works with solitary play as well as playing with companions.
So take a recess from “teaching.” Don’t try to sneak in some learning through summer fun activities. Enough activities will come along. Let the downtime come along too.
Just one teaching activity: If you can manage it, get to the Creation Museum. www.AnswersinGenesis.org.
–Ruth