Summer!!!
“I’m bored.” Yeah, it’s 6 weeks into summer. We’re all bored…unless we plan a stimulating and growth-mindset-building set of challenges and deep dive into something new. Are you a parent who is looking to start planning an educational summer for your child before they get bored? Let’s get started now!
There are very few things that excite a child more than the carefree times of the summer. All obligations pause for three months while kids enjoy long days and warm nights. Many parents worry about the risks associated with having such a lax schedule and break in routine. The best way to make sure your child has a productive summer is to plan a schedule for them! Here are a few reasons why a schedule would be beneficial to you and your child.
Try Something New
Because of the extensive break away from learning activities and school work, longer vacations require planning. Many parents fear that their children will “lose what they don’t use” over the summer. Chances are, the initial excitement of summer vacation will soon dwindle down. Then, your child will be yearning for something stimulating to do. Therefore, planning an educational summer can help your student stay excited! Encourage them to pick up a new hobby. Talk to our team today to browse our databases of research and internship opportunities. This can be a great way to start your summer activity brainstorm. Here’s a sneak preview of our database…
Allow your child to dig deep and pick something that they have little to no experience in. Then allow them to have at it! Perhaps they may want to learn origami, or take an introductory online coding class. Maybe they’d like to volunteer with an organization dear to their heart, master culinary creations, or try a new sport. Whatever it is that they choose to do, be their biggest supporter. When they first begin practicing their new hobby, it may be challenging.
Yes, they may grow frustrated or feel as though they will never “get it”. This is why it is important that you encourage them to hang in there. These challenges will bring new experiences, presenting a chance for your child to work through difficult times and persevere. They will have to research how to become better at their hobby and they will also have to learn through trial and error.
Encourage Growth Mindset
As they get better, they will realize the intrinsic reward of persistent effort and patience, developing a growth mindset. Adopting a growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, predicts being more open to trying unfamiliar academic and extracurricular endeavors later on, and investing high amounts of effort in those new experiences rather than just coasting on what comes easily. Growth mindset aims to represent intelligence and personal qualities as being capable of change and growth, as opposed to being stuck one way- or fixed. Students who develop a growth mindset are less likely to quit something at the first sign of being challenged by an unfamiliar task. This can yield great gains academically when students persevere through an accelerated class, or seek helpful resources when they perform worse than expected on an exam rather than feeling personally defeated or essentially flawed.
Hobbies are a great way to build your child’s self esteem and confidence, which is something that many children are battling with in school. A hobby creates a sense of purpose and it will feel great to your child to be good at something! Not to mention, hobbies are a great way to meet new, like-minded friends. This is an awesome chance for your child to meet and socialize with other children that are not students at their current school. Meeting other children through these extracurricular activities will broaden their experiences, exposure to new demographics and cultures, and ultimately, worldview.
Empowerly is here to help! Don’t get stuck in a rut. Reach out and expand your horizons today. We work with parents and students to make sure your student is on the right track for college. If you’re interested in planning an educational summer for your student, we can help. Book a consult to learn more about our approach!
