By: Alex Chiu<\/p>\n
Summer is the time of year when schedules are a bit more relaxed, bedtimes push back a little later, and vacations and staycations abound.\u00a0 Some parents worry about what to do with their children during the summer and about \u2018summer learning loss\u2019 (where students, not immersed in daily learning at school, lose a portion of what they gained during the school year).\u00a0 However, this doesn\u2019t need to happen at all.\u00a0 Instead of summer being a vacation from learning, it can instead be an opportunity for your children to find new ways of channeling their curiosity and practicing and refining the skills that they have obtained throughout the school year.<\/p>\n
To help maintain a \u2018Montessori mindset\u201d throughout the summer, there are a few things that parents can do.\u00a0 A good place to start is by following the example of Montessori teachers who take great care in preparing their classroom environments<\/em>, upholding expectations<\/em> for everyone in the classroom community, and following the children\u2019s lead<\/em> as their interests and needs come into focus. With a little planning before summer vacation begins, you can create a bridge between your child\u2019s school-year Montessori learning environment and your own home during the summer months.<\/p>\n Keep an assortment of activities available for your child to use during the \u2018down times\u2019 of the day when chores are finished and outings are not planned.\u00a0 Items should be placed where the children can reach them, and a child-sized work area should be established.\u00a0 This allows your child to make decisions about what to do with his or her free time and to be able to do things independently, without mom or dad having to participate at all times.\u00a0 To help you begin, think about the places where you and your child spend the most time during the summer days.<\/p>\n In the Kitchen<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n You might consider designating a shelf in your kitchen to hold activities such as:<\/p>\n In the Family Room<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Also, rotating puzzles, matching cards, counting activities, and favorite toys every few weeks keeps things interesting and fresh through the summer months, as children choose which activities they would like to do.<\/p>\n In the Backyard<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to prepare things in a space outside, too!<\/p>\n It may take a little time and creativity to collect household items to use for the activities, but this preparation of your home environment is worth the effort.\u00a0 And it needn\u2019t be expensive.\u00a0 You can easily use items you already have available around the house.\u00a0 After you have your prepared environment set up, show your children what activities are available, where they may do their work, and what to do when they are finished using the materials, just like their teachers do at school. \u00a0Then, let them enjoy the freedom to choose their work and play!<\/p>\n In a Montessori classroom, children learn to respect themselves, others, and the environment.\u00a0 They know that everyone has responsibilities and that the classroom community relies on everyone contributing and doing his or her job.\u00a0 Parents are fully aware that just because it is summertime doesn\u2019t mean that families are on a vacation from the usual day to day responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.\u00a0 So, while your children are at home this summer, be sure to include them in these necessary daily chores.\u00a0 They will be happy to show off the Practical Life skills that they have been developing all school year!\u00a0 Have your children help with age-appropriate tasks such as:<\/p>\n Not only does upholding your expectations allow them to practice their skills, but it also confirms that your children (and the work that they do) are important.\u00a0 That is a very motivating feeling!\u00a0 Patience on the part of the parent is essential for helping your child to grow in his or her mastery of these skills, but summer is a season to give your children time to complete their work to the best of their ability, resulting in a great sense of accomplishment (and in all likelihood, a much more willing little household helper!).<\/p>\n In Montessori classrooms, teachers learn to \u2018follow the child\u2019, and summer is an opportune time for parents to try to do the same.<\/p>\n But first, what does it mean to \u201cfollow the child\u201d?\u00a0 At its essence, it means to observe your child and to open the doors that your child is knocking on with his or her questions, interests, and behaviors.\u00a0 As your child chooses activities around the house, you might pay attention to which ones he or she chooses over and over again and which ones are left to collect dust.\u00a0 The toys and games being used most often are certainly drawing your child\u2019s attention, and you can try to uncover just what it is about these things that intrigue your child.\u00a0 Maybe he or she is drawn to everything decorated with bugs and dinosaurs.\u00a0 Well, there\u2019s the door waiting to be opened\u2014summer can be the time to collect books on those subjects or to visit local museums where together you can learn more about them.\u00a0 Or maybe you observe that the most repeated activities are those where your child feels most challenged or most relaxed, and that is what keeps him or her coming back again and again.\u00a0 Stand back as your child works and plays.\u00a0 What do you notice?<\/p>\n Equally important are those children\u2019s items around the house that are collecting dust.\u00a0 Is your child-size easel always clean and bare?\u00a0 Maybe your child doesn\u2019t know what to do with it.\u00a0 Perhaps a fresh supply of watercolors or different sizes of paper or brushes might inspire a new or renewed interest in art.\u00a0 Or a visit to a local gallery might open up a new door to artistic expression for your child.\u00a0 By quietly observing your child, you can get some great insights into his or her interests and as well as his or her needs.<\/p>\n Following the child doesn\u2019t mean that you can\u2019t also offer suggestions for activities you might do together this summer.\u00a0 And if you<\/em> have a special interest, share it with your children.\u00a0 Astronomy?\u00a0 Gaze at the summer nighttime sky and try to identify different constellations.\u00a0 Read the myths behind their names, and visit a planetarium to learn even more.\u00a0 These experiences nurture your children\u2019s natural curiosity and provide them with ways to extend their learning beyond books and into the \u2018real world\u2019.<\/p>\n Together you can choose do-able options from this list. \u00a0Then let your child outline a plan and put it into action.\u00a0 But remember to stand back and observe all of your children\u2019s efforts\u2014you will be amazed by what they think and at what they can do when you trust yourself to follow their lead!<\/p>\n With a little preparation, patience, and a \u201cMontessori mindset\u201d, you can provide your child with fulfilling activities that reinforce the skills he or she has gained during the school year.\u00a0 You will find yourselves sailing smoothly through the summer months and right back into the new school year when it begins again before you know it in September!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By: Alex Chiu Summer is the time of year when schedules are a bit more relaxed, bedtimes push back a little later, and vacations and staycations abound.\u00a0 Some parents worry about what to do with their children during the summer and about \u2018summer learning loss\u2019 (where students, not immersed in daily learning at school, lose […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":215,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[69],"tags":[79,81,82,10,72,71,84,85,47,73,86,4,52,78,35,83,6,74,75,77,76,70,8,80],"coauthors":[13],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/bryce.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7icff-3p","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1330,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2024\/07\/04\/school-is-out-summer-is-here-but-learning-and-fun-dont-need-to-end\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":0},"title":"School is Out, Summer is Here\u2026 but Learning (and Fun) Don\u2019t Need to End!","author":"Tori Inkley","date":"July 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Camilla Nichols and Zachery Inkley,with additional content by Tori Inkley Along with welcoming Summer, we would like to provide some fun activities and ideas to help keep your children stimulated in a meaningful way. It\u2019s important for them to remain in a state of learning and exploration even when\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":230,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/28\/school-is-in-session-for-mctds-adult-learners\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":1},"title":"School Is In Session for MCTD\u2019s Adult Learners","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"July 28, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"By: Hannah Ferris with Doreen Adamo and Bernadette Fasolas The summer months are filled with activity at The Montessori Children's Academy (MCA). \u00a0We are busy running our MCA Summer Camp, preparing our classrooms for the upcoming school year, and our Teacher Education Program, Montessori Center for Teacher Development (MCTD), is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Montessori Philosophy"","block_context":{"text":"Montessori Philosophy","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/montessori-philosophy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/mctdCourse1.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":717,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/13\/farmers-markets-and-montessori\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":2},"title":"Farmers Markets and Montessori","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"August 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Chiu August is perhaps one of the most colorful months of the year, especially if you take some time to visit any number of local farmers markets in the area. Fruits and vegetables in rainbows of hues fill the baskets and tables, inviting a closer look at their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Farm-Market-2-e1534205581259-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":868,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/19\/sewing-up-the-school-year\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":3},"title":"Sewing Up the School Year","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"June 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"By Fiorella Benson with Alex Chiu As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close, we are delighted to share a special photo blog featuring a special end of the year project from one of our MCA classes which beautifully illustrates how skills gleaned from across the Montessori curriculum come\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"benefits of Montessori\"","block_context":{"text":"benefits of Montessori","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/tag\/benefits-of-montessori\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Pinning-Hands-Close-Up-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":713,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/25\/summertime-extensions-for-exploring-the-cultural-area\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":4},"title":"Summertime Extensions for Exploring the Cultural Area","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"July 25, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Montessori classrooms truly give students the world. The Cultural area of the classroom is filled with flags, globes, and maps which allow students to travel to places beyond their classroom walls. Montessori students learn about geography, land and water forms, and climate, not to mention the customs and cultures of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Early Child Education"","block_context":{"text":"Early Child Education","link":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/category\/early-child-education\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/IMG_1100-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":550,"url":"https:\/\/themontessorichildrensacademy.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/31\/preparing-for-parentteacher-conferences\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":5},"title":"Preparing for Parent\/Teacher Conferences","author":"Alex Chiu","date":"October 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"By Alex Chiu By the month of November, students are well into their school routines. 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Second, uphold your expectations that your children are contributing members of daily family life.<\/h3>\n
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Finally, challenge yourself to \u201cfollow the child<\/strong>\u201d:<\/h3>\n
Other ideas for following your child\u2019s interests and expanding your child\u2019s summer experiences include:<\/h3>\n
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