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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington

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Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Unveils Culmore Character Club’s Renovated Kitchen - BGCGW

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Resources from FCPS and Community Partners to help you have a fun, safe, and healthy summer.

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Overview

Resources are organized by grade level and are aligned with what students have learned throughout the school year.

Families are encouraged to explore these activities at their own pace to:

reinforce concepts

extend learning

stay engaged

Materials can be completed at your own pace and in any order.

Technology

These activities require a device to access. Some resources require students to log in with their FCPS account.

Students may use a home device or their FCPS school device.

To borrow a device, please see the Families: Tools and Technology page.

Support?

Need support using an FCPS issued device? Visit the Families: Tools and Technology page

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Your go-to hub for enriching summer activities and materials across Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Discover engaging ways to extend classroom learning, spark curiosity, and build a deeper understanding of key concepts, all from the comfort of your home.

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FREE & EASY Summer Activities to Do with Preschoolers

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FREE & EASY Summer Activities to Do with Preschoolers

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Early Childhood-2025 Summer Activities Calendar

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10 Writing Activities For Kids This Summer

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10 Writing Activities For Kids This Summer

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10 Writing Activities For Kids This Summer (That Can Actually Be Fun!) - Educational Connections

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I wasn't a math major, but I know enough to tell you that in the majority of households, that equation DOESN'T hold true. It's hard enough to get them to sit down and write during the school year so you may be wondering... "How in the world is this going to happen over the summer?"

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Our Summer Reading Adventure is for YOUTH and ADULTS and participating is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Go to fairfaxcounty.beanstack.org and register for the Summer Reading Adventure appropriate for you or your children.

2. Depending on your age, earn ten or fifteen virtual badges by reading or listening to books, reading for 20 or 30 minutes, completing activities or a combination of all three.

3. Once you have met the reading goals for your age/grade, visit your local library branch and receive prizes for finishing the program!

For more information, visit Youth Summer Reading 2024 and Adult Summer Reading 2024. General Interest School-Age Teens The World We Write Short Story Contest
Fairfax County Public Library and the Fairfax Library Foundation invite school-age youth (3rd-6th grade), teens (7th-12th grade) and adults (18+) to participate in our second annual "The World We Write" short story writing contest. Use one of five prompts to write a 250-word story and submit it online.
Entries may be submitted from July 1 - 31, 2024. Learn More: Youth and Adults. Teen Chopped Challenge
Create your own unique recipe for FCPL's Teen Chopped Challenge! Use our three mystery ingredients to make something fun and delicious. A limited quantity of ingredient kits will be available at select library branches. These are first come, first served.

This competition is for ages 12-18. Kits will be available at: Chantilly Regional, Dolley Madison Library, John Marshall Library, Kings Park Library, Patrick Henry Library and Sherwood Regional.
Entries may be submitted from June 12 - August 16. Learn More.

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FCPL Curated Content: Reading Adventures for Youth and Adults: Summer Reading Adventure

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Participate in Fairfax County Public Library's reading activities!

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How to Keep Kids Reading This Summer - Child Mind Institute

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Tips for avoiding the summer slide, by having kids keep practicing skills they have developed in school.

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Summer Activities for Kids With Learning Disorders 

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Summer Activities for Kids With Learning Disorders 

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As we head into summer, many parents - especially parents of kids with learning disorders - are wondering how to help their kids make the most of all this free time. How can kids continue to learn, grow and prepare for school in the fall?

Kids with learning disorders, ADHD or language difficulties are particularly vulnerable to what we call "the summer slide." That refers to the loss of skills that a lot of kids see in reading and especially math over the summer months. Now, as many kids are still catching up from pandemic learning loss, it's even more important to help kids maintain and develop their skills over the summer.

Summer is definitely a time for everyone to loosen up a bit, but at the same time, parents can use some of the following strategies to help kids stay on track academically, emotionally and socially.

Academic work doesn't have to look like traditional classroom work. Remember that you can incorporate academics and learning into lots of other activities, which we'll get into more below.

What you do this summer will look different depending on the age of your child, as well as their skill level and personality. With younger children, a good baseline is about 15 to 20 minutes of reading and math practice most days of the week. For older elementary school students that might look more like 20 to 30 minutes of reading, math and writing practice. Again, this doesn't necessarily mean that your child has to sit at a desk with a workbook the whole time - the idea is just to make sure that practicing skills is built into your child's daily routines one way or another.

That said, children with diagnosed learning disabilities might need more frequent formal instruction. To get a sense of what's best for your child, try getting in touch with your child's teachers and learning specialists to see what you can do to reinforce your child's skills throughout the summer. You might ask:

Are there any specific workbooks you recommend?

Do you have a recommended reading list we could use?

Which online educational activities align with what my child is learning in school?

Are there specific skills that my child could use extra practice with over the summer?

We've also got a great list of at-home educational resources available on our website.

Especially for kids with attention and learning disorders, following consistent routines is a huge part of academic success. What's more, having a routine lets kids know what to expect each day and reduces their anxiety, which is especially important now that kids are facing a lot of change and uncertainty. Structure and predictability let kids feel safe, stable and in control to some extent.

Summer routines can certainly be different from school routines. Depending on the age of your child, it's often helpful to involve them in the process of setting up a routine and creating a schedule for the day. They'll be more likely to stick to a schedule that they have helped to create because they have a little more buy-in, and because they'll tend to choose things they enjoy. Try coming up with a list of fun activities and let them choose which ones they want to do and in what order.

It's also important to keep bedtimes and mealtimes as consistent as possible, so that kids have some clear structure to work with. This could also be a great time to start new traditions. For example, maybe Sunday morning becomes pancake breakfast throughout the summer, and then the family takes a long walk or bike ride together after breakfast. This kind of thing doesn't just provide predictability - it also gives kids something to look forward to, which might be missing with the lack of organized summer activities.

Especially for kids who really need to burn off energy, staying physically active is a key part of being able to focus mentally. What's more, spending time outside is a great way for kids to learn about the world around them and keep their academic skills sharp in a fun, active way.

What your family does will of course depend on what kinds of outdoor spaces you have access to, but some options to consider include:

Scavenger hunts and obstacle courses in the backyard

Family walks, hikes, bike rides or scooter rides

Gardening, which can be especially good for practicing math skills: How many seeds will we plant? How far apart should they go?

Spending time at beaches, lakes or pools. You can even set up an inflatable pool or splash pad in your yard.

Observing the plants and animals near your home. You might get a bird feeder or encourage your child to identify the flowers you see on your walks.

If your child plays sports, you can also help them recreate some of that structure at home. For instance, if you have a yard and your child plays soccer, set up a goal, even if it's just a couple of cones to mark the space. Maybe they can use this time to learn new skills, practice for a new position, or focus on endurance, strength training or flexibility. Whatever they choose, setting goals and working toward them can help your child to stay engaged and focused while they're out of school.

Screen time is a part of almost every child's life, because they crave it and because parents need to get things done. The trick is getting creative about how you use screen time, and how you find alternatives to it. Depending on what's doable for your family right now, you might try to work in more non-screen activities as summer gets underway. In addition to outdoor activities, consider:

Art activities. Maybe your child is interested in learning a new craft or even making a collage or sculpture out of spare materials from around the house.

Complex projects. For example, if your child likes building with Legos, you could challenge them to build something new every day and take daily photos, so that your child can look back on their progress at the end of the summer.

Household skills. Cooking, doing laundry, organizing closets - these are all skills that kids can learn, and they often enjoy the sense of agency that comes from helping out. Plus, practice with things like measuring and following instructions can translate into academic skills - and you might even get a little more free time for yourself!

Of course, a certain amount of screen time is inevitable. But your child's screens have a lot more to offer than just video games and social media. There are lots of high-quality virtual resources that kids can get into this summer, and many are free or low-cost:

Khan Academy, ABC Mouse and OutSchool offer online courses for a wide range of age groups.

Mystery Science, Sawyer and Activity Hero have a ton of content, from music lessons to story time to yoga.

Parks and Recreation departments often have options for virtual classes, activities and even day camps. Check out the ones in your area, or see if departments elsewhere have programs that kids from different regions can join.

Through options like these, you can incorporate some more structure and academic material into your child's day, without setting rigid screen time rules.

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Summer Activities for Kids With Learning Disorders - Child Mind Institute

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How can kids continue to learn, grow and prepare for school in the fall?

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Strategies for a Successful Summer Break

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Strategies for a Successful Summer Break

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While your average child may be thrilled by the end of the school year, anticipating lazy days and sleeping in, the prospect of summer break isn't quite that unalloyed pleasure for parents. And if you have a child with emotional or developmental issues who is challenging in the best of times, nothing calls on whatever extra powers you might possess more than the long break that lies ahead.

While all kids do better with structure and routine, those with mental health issues including anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders are especially dependent on the predictable "safe zone" that school provides. Without it, they're more prone to anxiety, oppositional behavior, and tantrums. For the parents who care for them, "vacation" can be anything but.

Here are some tips to help keep your child on track so summer can be as rewarding as possible for everyone in the family:

Maintain your schedule

While you may never be able to duplicate the structure school provides, it helps to maintain the school year's daily schedule, right down to meal times and bedtime, as much as possible. It can be very tempting to let your kids stay up late and sleep in-especially on weekends, when you want to do the same-but in the long run, sticking to the same schedule pays off by keeping your child more comfortable, and hence more cooperative.

Make it visual

Kids who thrive on predictability and are prone to panic over transitions-including those on the autism spectrum-benefit from posted schedules that outline what will happen throughout the day (i.e., 7am: Wake up, go to the bathroom, wash face...8am: breakfast...) Depending on your child's developmental level, simple pictures can also help.

Make plans

Try to schedule as many activities as possible, as early as possible, and keep your kids posted. This can mean anything from "we're going to Aunt Mary's Thursday at 5pm for dinner" to having a set routine that every day, weather permitting, you'll be going to the playground or pool. Even one such activity can give kids a center of gravity, so to speak, around which the rest of the day can be structured.

It can be tough finding play dates for kids who have difficulty socializing with peers, but some parents have found success through Yahoo! and Meetup groups and other online sites. There, you can get to know other likeminded, nonjudgmental parents who "get" your kids and won't be offended if a play date has to be cut short. Of course, if you are lucky enough to have family members who are great with your child, don't be shy about taking them up on offers of help.

Get outdoors

Home can become a safe cocoon, especially for children with sensory issues, who can feel assaulted by extra sights and sounds, or those who have trouble with social interactions. But no child should spend hours in front of a screen. One father of a 9-year-old with oppositional defiant disorder tells us he relies on camp to get his son outside; as well as provide structure and routine. "Without it," Steve says, his Michael "would sit in front of the TV or play on his Nintendo DS until his eyes fell out." Even if camp isn't in the cards, try to find something your child enjoys-riding a bike or scooter, playing tag, or splashing at the community pool, water park, or beach-and do it.

Plus, physical activity is good for everyone's mind, body and spirit, especially those kids with energy to burn.

Maintain-or create-a behavioral system

Children and teens, especially, may act like they want to be in charge, but the truth is they feel safer knowing exactly what you expect of them and the rewards that result from good behavior. This is never truer than during the seemingly boundless-and boundary-free-summer break. You should choose the two or three most desired positive behaviors to nurture with consistent and positive reinforcement, and try to ignore as many of the negative ones as possible. This teaches kids the definite rewards of desired behavior, and that acting out gets them nothing-not even negative attention. A chart with stickers for tasks accomplished can work wonders as positive reinforcement for preschool children. And remember: if you have limits, such as 30 minutes a day of earned computer time, you should stick to them.

Find support

Parents of kids with developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems often feel isolated and lonely. It can be difficult watching all the other neighborhood children set off for a camp yours can't attend; not only are those kids cementing friendships they may have already formed during the school year, so are their parents. Don't feel bad booking a sitter and spending time with friends; it'll help you keep from feeling marooned, and your well-being is critical to caring for your child.

If you can't afford a sitter, close friends with or without kids can also provide good company and support for parents, even if mom or dad is still doing the supervising and discipline. It's always nice to have an extra adult or even an older child around to help keep an eye on yours.

Mimic home routines, even when traveling

Sally, whose 8-year-old son, Charlie, has Asperger's, has some very practical tips for planning a family getaway. Staying in a hotel and eating in restaurants "is usually a disaster," she says, given all the change and extra stimulation. Instead, she's found that renting an apartment online, where she can mimic home routines, works best; many other families do the same. Sally brings familiar nonperishables and several cooked meals, and makes sure there's a store nearby for things like milk, juice and fruit. "Having to cook and shop is not exactly a vacation," she says, "but it's a lot more peaceful" than trying to eat out.

Related: Tips for Traveling With Challenging Children

Work with your child's strengths and interests

When Steve's son Michael-the child with ODD -was 5, he started out at the day camp that many of his classmates at the neighborhood school attended. It shared a densely wooded site with other such camps, so it was very important from a safety standpoint that Michael stayed with his group. When the boy began to wander off, Steve recalls, "he got reprimanded by the counselors in such a way that it really set him off with a lot of oppositional/defiant behavior."

"The camp told us that they couldn't afford to have a staff member shadow him to make sure he stayed on task and with the group," Steve continues. In short, "they couldn't take the responsibility of having him there."

But Steve found that camp can be great for Michael if it is more structured and geared toward his strengths and interests. Today, Michael is busy throughout the summer at a series of camps for typically developing kids that keep him engaged with things like Lego Robotics and skateboarding. While Michael usually does well, Steve makes sure to keep a line of communication open with camp personnel so that any potential problem involving his son can be "straightened out before he gets kicked out."

Pinpoint your child's anxieties

Summer can bring camp, new activities, and different authority figures like new sitters, all which can be stressful. First, says psychologist Clark Goldstein, you need to figure out your child's fears, whether it's separating from you or striking out at baseball. If you're having trouble doing this, try asking open-ended questions. Rather than pose a yes-or-no question like "Are you worried about camp?" ask "How are you feeling about going to camp?" Once you know, you can encourage her to face her fear.The goal is to teach her that feeling anxious is uncomfortable but anxiety will ebb if you push through it.

Give the child time to adjust

A technique called gradual exposure is a good way of relieving a child's anxiety about a new experience. For instance, says Dr. Goldstein, if he has separation anxiety or social anxiety -he's worried that others won't like him or he'll embarrass himself in baseball-you might watch the entire first game. The next time, you could stand further back or leave at an appointed time. Eventually, you'll be able to drop off your now-comfortable child. It can also be helpful to give those working with him a head's up, without overstepping your bounds. Your goal is to set your child up for success; that includes making sure all the adults are on the same page.

Prepare yourself for some tough times

Even with the best-laid plans, you may see some regression and worsening behavior over vacation. Give yourself a break for not being able to magically avoid it. And be ready to hold your ground in as calm, firm, and consistent a manner as possible. Yelling or becoming physical only escalates things, while giving in teaches your child that if he screams loud enough, he'll get what he wants.

Shannon Des Roches Rosa, mother to 10-year-old Leo, writes on the Thinking Person's Guide to Autism blog that her son, who has autism, "is used to 1:1 supervision and engagement all day long, and I can't possibly provide the kind of routine and stimulation he craves, no matter how many camps and grandparent visits his sisters get shuffled off to. I try to keep Leo occupied, and I have a lot of support, and having an iPad helps, but I still worry that-as has happened in summers past-it won't be enough, and Leo's behavior and abilities will keep disintegrating until school resumes at the end of August."

Yet while she remains "scared of summer," she also sees a lot of potential-especially for Leo, a self-taught swimmer who enjoys basking in the family pool. No backyard pool? You may find your child is just as happy playing in a sprinkler and earning music downloads for good behavior. And if you can maintain a sense of fun, there will be many moments of learning and development of the kind that can't happen in a classroom.

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Strategies for a Successful Summer Break | Child Mind Institute

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While your average child may be thrilled by the end of the school year, anticipating lazy days and sleeping in, the prospect of summer break isn't quite that unalloyed pleasure for parents. And if you have a child with emotional or developmental issues who is challenging in the best of times, nothing calls on whatever extra powers you might possess more than the long break that lies ahead.

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For many kids, summer vacation holds the promise of months of school-free fun. But for children with sensory processing issues, summer can be a challenging time.

From the sand on the beach to the fireworks on the Fourth of July, the season is full of exciting but potentially difficult experiences. An unfamiliar playground, a visit to an amusement park, a messy ice cream cone: all involve sensory surprises that can be overwhelming or upsetting if a child is unusually sensitive to light, noise, and tactile sensations. But with some preparation and planning parents can help kids with sensory issues get the most out of summertime.

The first step to helping a child with sensory processing issues enjoy summertime is having a strong understanding her specific needs. Sensory processing issues come in many shapes and sizes, and no two kids are exactly the same. An activity like going to the beach might be a huge treat for one child and miserable for another, depending on their individual sensitivities.

"For children with tactile hypersensitivity something like going to the beach can be a nightmare," says Lindsey Biel, an occupational therapist and author of Sensory Processing Challenges: Effective Clinical Work with Kids & Teens. "They can't stand the way the sun feels on their skin, or the sand on their feet."

The best way to avoid a meltdown at the beach is to tune into what your child's behavior tells you. Did she refuse to go in the water at the waterpark last summer? Does she have trouble with sticky food like cotton candy? Does she run away when you try to put sunscreen on her? Looking back at what kinds of activities your child has enjoyed-and which have lead to meltdowns-is a great way to get a sense of what she'll enjoy in the future, and what tools you can use to help potentially difficult activities become less stressful.

When the school year ends, saying goodbye to homework is often cause for celebration, but for kids with sensory issues the loss of an orderly schedule can spell disaster.

"One of the difficult things that happens during summer is the loss of structure," says Biel. "Kids with sensory issues thrive when there's a predictable schedule and they can more or less tell what's going to happen each day. When that's gone the day becomes more stressful, not less."

Unexpected events are jarring and disruptive for kids with sensory issues who are more sensitive to changes in environment or activity. Routine helps them feel comfortable and better prepared to handle what's coming their way.

Consider enrolling kids in activities that help them maintain a schedule. Swimming, art, or other sensory-friendly classes or day camps can mimic the structure of school in a fun way.

Work with your child to make a calendar of upcoming events. Use stickers or fun doodles to represent activities. A dolphin sticker might represent a day at the beach or a picture of roller skates could mean a visit to the park.

Once you've made a schedule, try hard to stick with it. Disorder is very confusing for kids with sensory issues, so consistency is key.

Summer is a great time to try new things but some experiences can be overwhelming for kids with sensory issues. When it comes to going out, careful planning can mean the difference between a happy summer day and a total meltdown. The more prepared they are the less likely they are to be overwhelmed, which means everyone will have a better time.

Focus on transitions. "Kids with sensory processing issues often struggle with transitions," says Matthew Rouse, PhD, a child psychologist. "So it's very important to give them plenty of warning when transitioning from one activity to another."

Talk it out. "Prepare kids for potentially overwhelming activities by talking about what the experience will be like in advance," says Dr. Rouse. "Knowing what's going to happen takes a lot of the anxiety out of trying new things."

Break it down. "Take any situation that's potentially problematic and do a sensory analysis of it," says Biel. If taking your kid to the park overwhelms him, think about what sensory triggers might be behind his reaction. Breaking the experience down to its sensory components-the light touch of long grass, the bugs, the noise-can help you and your child figure out how to manage the more difficult parts of the experience before you arrive.

Try a test run. "Once you know your child's sensory triggers you can begin working to help them manage their sensory arousal," explains Dr. Rouse. A lot of popular summer activities, especially those that take place outside, are full of intense multi-sensory stimulation. Kids may need to back up and explore the sensory experiences in a less stimulating environment. A great way to do this is to 'test' different components of the sensory experience in a non-stressful setting. "Making a sensory bin for kids to play with at home lets them get used to the different sensory experiences one at a time so they don't get overloaded," says Biel. "Turning desensitizing activities into play also helps kids associate difficult textures with fun."Sensory bins are easy to make. For example, if you're heading to the beach try filling a tray with sand and shells at home. This way he'll have the chance to get used to the tactile experience long before you hit the shore. Another way to prepare for activities ahead of time is to 'practice' them at home. For example if you're thinking of taking a hike, try doing a short test run in the park or the yard. This way, kids can get a preview of the sensations-how the grass brushes their legs, or how their backpack feels when they carry it for a long time, in a safe, comfortable space.

Make a sensory go-kit. "Kids should have their own toolbox of things that help them to feel good," says Biel. Put together a backpack of objects that provide sensory relief so kids can carry them even when parents aren't present. "Try including earmuffs, fidget toys, chewing gum or a weighted lap pad," suggests Biel. "Anything that kids can use to keep themselves regulated during new or difficult activities."

The right tools and clothes can reduce sensory overload and help kids have a good time.

Sunglasses: "Make sure the child has really high quality sunglasses," says Biel, "A lot of kids with sensory issues are very sensitive to bright light." A neoprene strap to help them stay on can be helpful.

Sun-protective hats: For kids who are very sensitive to sun try a soft, comfortable wide-brimmed hat.

Good bug spray: When it comes to mosquitos and ticks, comfort and safety are important. Many bug sprays are very effective but kids might resist them because they feel sticky or are strong-smelling. Lightweight long pants and long sleeves can be equally effective. You can also try spraying his clothing and hair rather than applying it directly to bare skin.

Sunscreen: If you're spending time outside, sunscreen can be an essential. There are many different kinds, so
investigate which works best for your child. Some are less greasy or come unscented or in spray versions. When applying sunscreen use massaging, even strokes. "Deep pressure is calming and organizing for kids." says Biel. "Instead of using light touch to apply sunblock, use that as an opportunity for a massage. It can be a good way
to help desensitize a child before going out.

The right bathing suit: "There are different bathing suits that have different sensory qualities to them," says Biel. "A lot of kids can't stand an elastic waistband, or the light touch of ruffles." Finding a sensory-friendly suit will make going to the pool and other swimming activities much more fun for kids.

Ear protection: Bring noise-cancelling earmuffs. Reducing noise takes intensity out of multisensory experiences. This is especially helpful for kids who are very sensitive to sound, but can be a great way for any child to take a step back and regroup.

Portable shelter: Beaches and parks can be fun but it's important for kids to have a retreat. An umbrella or beach cabana provides protection from the sun and gives kids a safe space to take a break during outdoor activities.

Protective shoes: If walking on grass or sand is intensely uncomfortable, don't push kids to go barefoot. Bring along a pair of aqua socks or other comfortable shoes that work well in outdoor conditions.

Seek out sensory-friendly events: Many museums, movie theaters, and shows including circuses and major musicals offer summer events geared towards kids with sensory processing issues. To get a sense of what's available, try doing an Internet search for sensory-friendly activities in your area.

Finally, remember that the goal is to help kids have a great summer. Focus on having fun, learning new skills, and doing what's best for your kids and yourself.

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Summer and Sensory Processing Issues - Child Mind Institute

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How to help kids with sensory processing issues develop the skills to stay comfortable in what can be overstimulating outdoor activities.

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5 Ways To Engage Your Reluctant Reader This Summer

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5 Ways To Engage Your Reluctant Reader This Summer

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Engaging your child in summer learning can be challenging, particularly if you have a reluctant reader. However, any educator will tell you that students who read over the summer are better prepared for the start of the new school year in the fall.

Regular reading can boost performance on reading achievement tests by 35-40%, according to the Epic! Summer Reading Study. Yet, as children get older, their love for reading often wanes. Did you know that about half of kids aged 6-8 read for pleasure almost every day? But by high school, this drops to a mere 15%, according to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ .

Strong reading skills aren't just for English class-they're essential across all subjects, including math and science. Reading comprehension is crucial whether it's tackling word problems in math or understanding complex instructions in science experiments. For example, understanding word problems in math hinges on good reading skills, and grasping scientific texts is vital for success in science.

To help your child stay ahead, I'm sharing five proven strategies and our annual book recommendations to encourage summer reading and support your child's academic success. Plus, at the bottom of this page, you can watch our recent webinar, "Reading and Succeeding: Proven Methods to Boost Motivation and Comprehension."

How do you get your reluctant reader to actually read?

1. Select a book in a series.

One of the best ways to get reluctant readers excited to read more is to find a book series they love. Series for young readers often feature captivating characters and storylines that draw kids in, encouraging them to read more. Once your child gets invested in the first book, their curiosity about what happens next can motivate them to continue reading through the series.

This sustained interest can help improve their reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence. Additionally, book series provide a sense of accomplishment as your child progresses from one book to the next, reinforcing their positive reading habits and making reading a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.

2. Pick books and passages that are kid-tested.

Even boys with ADHD will devour a book when you find material that interests them. The story should be easy to read and should grab their attention right away.

Does your fifth grader enjoy dragons? Find stories or graphic novels about dragons. How about an eighth-grader who enjoys cars and motorcycles? Find a book on repair or popular models.

"One of my students wouldn't read outloud during our initial session, but I knew he was really into Roblox. By finding reading materials related to the game, I was able to engage him and help him greatly improve his reading skills," explained our Reading Tutor and Executive Function Coach Jan Rowe.

Understanding what excites your child can significantly boost their reading motivation. I love the Scholastic website, which allows parents and their kids to peruse books by reading level and interest. If you are unsure if the content is age-appropriate, you can also check Common Sense Media for age recommendations and reviews from parents and kids.

3. Enlist help from a Reading Tutor or Executive Function Coach.

A Subject Tutor or Executive Function Coach can engage your child and uncover the reasons behind the reluctance, offer solutions, and open the door to the exciting world of books.

To get the most out of summer reading sessions, we start with an assessment to discover your child's current reading level and pinpoint their strengths and areas for improvement.

"Assessments guide us in creating a personalized learning plan," explained Rowe. This tailored approach means your child gets the support they need to tackle their unique challenges and build on their strengths.

Nowadays, online reading is an essential skill for students. With so much happening online, including standardized tests, it's crucial for kids to be comfortable with digital text. Our virtual sessions incorporate screen-sharing and on-screen tools to highlight text and write notes in the margin, making the online reading experience interactive and engaging.

Click below to schedule your free consultation to discuss how we'll help your child keep up or get ahead this summer.

4. Consider a summer reading challenge.

There's a good chance your local library or your child's school district is offering a free summer reading challenge to encourage kids to keep reading. If not, plenty of online challenges are out there, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.

Through Scholastic's Home Base Summer Program, kids can read free eBooks, attend author events, and keep track of their reading streaks. Camp BOOK IT! helps kids set and keep track of monthly reading goals and rewards them with free pizza. Kids can score a free book through Barnes & Noble's Summer Reading Program, and hone their writing skills while they're at it.

5. Everyone in the family should read, not just kids.

Parents AND kids should choose a book at the start of the summer. When kids see their parents and siblings reading something offline, they are much more likely to do so themselves. Try to pair reading time with relaxation in the evening after dinner. Whether it's a book or a magazine, the content isn't as crucial as the act of reading itself.

And if you follow our first two tips about finding the right material and getting them hooked on a series, you'll find that your kids may actually start looking forward to their evening reading time...

Our Summer 2024 Book Recommendations

Here are some of our elementary school student's favorite book series:

My Weird School- Dan Gutman

Wayside School - Louis Sachar

Class Dismissed - Allan Woodrow

Trapped in a Video Game - Dustin Brady

Dog Man - Dav Pilkey

I Survived - Lauren Tarshis

Here are some of our middle school student's favorite book series:

39 Clues - Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson - Rick Riordan

Hatchet - Gary Paulson

The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau

Liar, Liar - Gary Paulson

Middle School Series - James Patterson

And if you have a high schooler, check out these some summer reading lists:

Ready to Transform Your Child's Reading Skills?

Using the summer to focus on your child's reading skills can give them the boost they need for academic success. Addressing individual challenges, engaging materials, and connecting with their interests can make reading a fun and rewarding experience. We're here for you this summer!

Schedule a free strategy call to discuss your child's reading history and goals. We'll help develop an individualized learning plan and set your child on the path to start the next school year strong.

Watch our Webinar- Reading & Succeeding: Proven Methods to Boost Motivation and Comprehension

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5 Ways To Engage Your Reluctant Reader This Summer

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Summer is the perfect time to help your child improve their reading skills. Dive into this article to uncover the benefits and strategies to make reading enjoyable and effective for your child. We're also including our Summer of 2024 book recommendations.

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Great Books to Read on the Beach, in a Treehouse, or Under the Covers

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Great Books to Read on the Beach, in a Treehouse, or Under the Covers

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Readers from elementary school to high school will recognize themselves (and their ADHD brains) in these books.

Credit: Malte Mueller/Getty Images

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Great Books to Read This Summer

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'Remi in Overdrive' by Ashley Bartley

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'My Wandering Dreaming Mind' by Merriam Sarcia Saunders

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'Thank You, Mr. Falker' by Patricia Polacco

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'Aaron Slater, Illustrator' by Andrea Beaty

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'The Unteachables' by Gordon Korman

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'Guts' by Raina Telgemeier

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'Trouble with a Tiny T' by Merriam Sarcia Saunders

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'Sidetracked' by Diana Harmon Asher

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'I Survived ...' by Lauren Tarshis

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'Kid Innovators: True Tales of Childhood from Inventors and Trailblazers'

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'Fish in a Tree' by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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'The Edge of Anything' by Nora Shalaway Carpenter

14 of 16

'The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily' by Laura Creedle

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'Ready Player Two' by Ernest Cline

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'Kat and Meg Conquer the World' by Anna Priemaza

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Great Books to Read on the Beach, in a Treehouse, or Under the Covers

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Books to read this summer for students with ADHD, learning differences, and related conditions, sorted by school grade level.

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Summer is a great time to encourage kids to read and actively explore the world. Books can be the perfect springboard to building background knowledge and a love of reading.

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Camp BOOK IT!

Parents, join us for Camp BOOK IT! and keep rewarding your kids all summer long. Track and reward your kids' reading for June, July and August in our digital dashboard. When they meet their monthly reading goal, they'll receive a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut! We'll also share fun activities and book recommendations each week to keep the fun going throughout the summer! Enroll today!

Enroll Today!

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Parents, join us for Camp BOOK IT! and keep rewarding your kids all summer long. Track and reward your kids’ reading for June, July and August in our digital dashboard. When they meet their monthly reading goal, they’ll receive a free one-topping Personal Pan Pizza® from Pizza Hut! We’ll also share…

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Sonlight Summer Reading Kit-Free Printables

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Sonlight Summer Reading Kit-Free Printables

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FREE Downloadable Resource

It's no secret that at Sonlight, we love books! Reading doesn't have to stop when the school year ends, and this year we've decided to make your summer reading a little more fun with this printable Summer Reading Kit. It's filled with reading activities that'll keep your child engaged with books all summer long.

GET MY FREE KIT

This Summer Reading Kit includes a wide range of free resources. Pick and choose the activities that most interest your family!

Punch cards, genre charts, and reading logs - Track your progress whatever ways your kids love best.

Reading Bingo - Add variety to your summer reading and see who can fill out the Bingo card first.

Books you can watch (but read the book first!) - Center family movie nights around the books you're enjoying with discussion questions and a Venn Diagram to compare.

Templates for bookmarks and bookplates - Shower love on the books in your home library with these papercrafts.

Book Bracket and Book Awards - Get your kids talking about books by choosing the best of the best with these printables and directions.

...and SO much more!

This toolkit will motivate your kids to want to read all summer long.

And reading prevents summer slide-the loss of academic gains that happens to many children when they are out of school.

BONUS: Printable Summer Reading Chart

With your download of the Summer Reading Challenge Kit, you'll get this FREE Summer Reading Chart!

The Summer Reading Poster has a place for each book you read this summer. Read every day this summer and color in the books or write the titles as you complete them.

It's your choice! Read aloud together or let your children read independently, and color/mark based on the number of books you read. As long as your child is reading something each day (number of pages, number of minutes, number of chapters, etc.) they will see their bookshelves "grow".

Print the chart at home and print new pages as you complete them. Hang on the wall to see how tall your shelf becomes. Then share your photos with us using #sonlightreadingchallenge.

June - August 2022

Challenge your readers to a fun summer reading contest-and enter to win a FREE Sonlight t-shirt to celebrate your accomplishment!*
How does it work?

1. Enter your email below to download the FREE Summer Reading Challenge Kit and Summer Reading Chart.

2. Read great books (we suggest Sonlight Summer Readers) and record them in the Reading Challenge Chart (located at the end of the Summer Reading Challenge Kit PDF)

3. Once you've completed the Summer Reading Chart, snap a picture with your completed chart and books. Share the photo on your favorite social media channel with hashtags #sonlightstories and #sonlightreadingchallenge and win a free Sonlight t-shirt!* We'll send you an email to remind you of the directions for winning a free t-shirt before the contest closes.

ENTER TO WIN

*No purchase is necessary to enter. Download Sonlight's free Sonlight Reading Challenge Kit at sonlight.com/challenge. Complete the included Summer Reading Chart and share your entry via your favorite social media outlet with hashtags #sonlightstories and #sonlightreadingchallenge. Be sure to tag us (@sonlightcurriculum and @sonlight). All entries must be received by Aug 31, 2022. Contest open to Contiguous US mailing addresses only. All qualifying entries will receive a coupon to redeem their free t-shirt on/around Sept 15, 2022. The cost of shipping the free t-shirt is not included.

Need help choosing great books?

We want children to read good books. There's no need to settle for the fluff in today's best-selling children's books though-you can provide your children with thoughtful, age-appropriate literature that's both edifying and fun! And we've done the work for you!

With Sonlight Summer Readers, you'll find age-appropriate books for elementary, middle, and high school students, for both boys and girls. Purchase these carefully vetted Summer Readers to enjoy yourself now, or save for your children to grow into later. Shop Summer Readers. Be sure to check out our Ultimate Summer Reading list of more than 250 titles recommended by Sonlight families too!

Download the Printable At-Home Reading Kit for Summer or Any Time of the Year

When you combine these printables and suggested activities with great books, suddenly reading isn't a chore or an assignment. It's a pleasure to savor and a vehicle for cherished family memories.

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FREE Downloadable Printable Resource: Summer Reading Challenge Kit

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FREE Downloadable Printable Resource: Summer Reading Challenge Kit - Summer Reading Poster

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Summer Reading with Reading is Fundamental

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Summer Reading with Reading is Fundamental

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Join us in some live, interactive fun this summer!

RIF is thrilled to offer two virtual book clubs this summer where your child can watch a read-aloud and then join in a discussion about the book.

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Join us in some live, interactive fun this summer! RIF is thrilled to offer two virtual book clubs this summer where your child can watch a read-aloud and then join in a discussion about the book.

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Nationals All-Star Summer Reading Program

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Nationals All-Star Summer Reading Program

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Story Time @ Nationals Park

Join a Nationals player and community partners before select home games for a player read aloud and book give away! Story Time is open to anyone with a ticket and held prior to games on April 21, June 16, July 7, August 4, and September 1.

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Be an All-Star Reader! | Washington Nationals

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The Nationals are proud to support summer reading programs in our community. Select your library system below for more information.

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SummerQuest Jr. is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc. SummerQuest is made possible through support from the Alexandria Library Foundation, Inc., the Friends of Beatley Central Library, Friends of Barrett Library, Friends of Burke Library, Friends of Duncan Library and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. SummerQuest is also supported by a generous donation from the Brown-Sanchez family. Prizes provided by the Washington Nationals.

* This project is supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

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SummerQuest Jr. is made possible through a generous grant from the James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation, Inc. SummerQuest is made possible through support from the Alexandria Library Foundation, Inc., the Friends of Beatley Central Library, Friends of Barrett Library, Friends of Burke Library, Friends of Duncan Library and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

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The library offers Summer and Winter Reading programs for kids, teens, and adults with extra challenges and fun prizes for every reader!

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https://www.summerlearning.org/

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National Summer Learning Association (NSLA)

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The National Summer Learning Association is a national, non-profit organization focused on the powerful impact of one achievable goal: investing in summer learning to help close the achievement gap.

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https://bealearninghero.org/readiness-check-2022/

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Want to know how your child is doing with grade-level math?

Like a game, your child answers 3-5 short questions and you see their progress with key math and reading skills needed for this year. At the end, get videos and activities to support grade-level learning at home.

Get Started Fill 1 Copy

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Readiness Check Fall 2022 " Be A Learning Hero

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Want to know how your child is doing with grade-level math? Like a game, your child answers 3-5 short questions and you see their progress with key math and reading skills needed for this year. At the end, get videos and activities to support grade-level learning at home.

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Actividades de verano para niños en edad preescolar GRATUITAS y FÁCILES

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Actividades de verano para niños en edad preescolar GRATUITAS y FÁCILES

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https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning-programs/camps-and-institutes-CTE-summer-academy?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

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A summer enrichment and skills development program for students currently in grades 7-11.

We can't wait for summer! Check out the 2022 program information below!
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a weekly enrichment program that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas and encourages skill development and career exploration.

Students are able to personalize their experience by choosing which CTE classes they will take!

CTE Summer Academy Program Information

Eligibility

Open to students in grades 7-11 during the 2021-22 school year. Students currently in grades 2-6 may participate in Tech Adventure Camp. Space is limited, and registration is on a first-come basis until seats are filled.

All students are welcome:

FCPS students.

Students enrolled in private schools.

Students who are homeschooled.

Non-Fairfax County residents.

Program Information

Dates

Week 1: July 11 - 15, 2022

Week 2: July 18 - 22, 2022

Week 3: July 25 - 29, 2022

Time

8:30 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.

Location

Lake Braddock Secondary School

Tuition

$275 per week

Classes and Daily Schedule

Students have four classes every day. Students choose their classes during the registration process and are encouraged to try new and exciting content.

Class descriptions can be found below. Activities and projects change each year so students who participated in 2021 can choose the same classes again this summer.

Coding Adventures

Are you interested in coding and programming? Learn the basics or take your skills to the next level in this exciting class.

Cyber Security Fundamentals

Can you stop hackers from getting into the network? Learn the skills of cyber security and how to protect yourself and others from online threats.

Mastering Microsoft

Want to sharpen your Microsoft Office skills? This class will help you master the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher. These skills are highly sought after in the workforce!

Digital Portfolio

This class will help you create a career portfolio and learn how to market yourself to potential employers.

Workforce Prep

Take this class and prepare yourself for the world of work! Learn how to create your resume and master the interview process.

Baking Basics

We're mixing up some delicious treats in this class! Grab those oven mitts, it's time to bake!

Crafting 101

Are you creative and love making things? Learn how to make basic crafts for gifts, home decor, and more!

Kitchen Classics

Do you love cooking? Build basic skills or expand your knowledge in the culinary arts and food preparation in this class!

Animal Care

Become a better pet owner and learn about how to properly care for animals. You'll be able to gain insight into the veterinary sciences programs offered at FCPS.

Emergency First Aid/CPR

Do you have what it takes to help someone in an emergency? Learn the basics of First Aid and CPR in this class so you can help someone in need or yourself!

Health Care Basics

Calling all those interested in health care! Learn about health care career pathways and gain hands-on experiences with tools and equipment in health fields.

Entrepreneurship: Shark Tank

Do you have what it takes to win over the sharks? In our own version of "Shark Tank," students will become entrepreneurs.

It's Marketing!

Learn more about marketing in this fun and interactive class. Topics can include sports, social media, fashion, etc.

CAD 101

Learn how to design like an engineer, architect, and product designer! Our Computer-Aided Design (CAD) classes can teach you the basics of using CAD or help expand skills you have already learned in the classroom.

Design Shop

Calling all design enthusiasts! Take your design skills to the next level by creating a product in this hands-on design and production class.

Flight School

It's time to take off! Learn more about how objects fly by building your own aircraft in this fun and exciting class.

Let's Make It!

3D Printing, Laser Cutting, and CNC machines, oh my! Explore these rapid prototyping techniques and learn how to properly use these machines to create your next invention.

Problem Solving

Do you have what it takes to solve an engineering design problem? Take a deeper dive into the engineering problem-solving process to solve a problem from ideas to testing a developed solution.

World of Robots

Do you have a passion for robots? Take your skills to the next level or learn the basics of building, programming, and controlling robots.

Crime Scene Investigation

Can you solve this mystery? Explore how investigators in criminal justice solve crimes including the tools and materials they use.

Home Building

How do we build homes? What skills are needed for basic home repairs? Learn it all and get hands-on experience in this class.

Mechanic Mania

Interested in vehicles? Learn the basics of auto technology and car care in this interactive class.

Movie Production

Lights, camera, action! What does it take to make a video? Learn all about it in this class.

Salon Basics

Take your hair, skin, and nail care skills to the next level in this class. Learn how hair care professionals help us go from drab to fab!

Wood Creations

Take a tour of our woodworking shop and learn how to safely use machines and tools found in the woodshop. Gain hands-on experience in the full production process of wooden items.

Lunch

Students will have a 30-minute lunch break every day. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Transportation

There is bus transportation from select FCPS high schools and middle schools. Transportation to and from these schools is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Transportation information will be communicated to families prior to the start of the program.

Registration

Will be open in February 2022!

Forms

All students must deliver the appropriate form(s) prior to the first day of camp. Forms can be emailed to Beth Mehr at [email protected] .

Lab Safety and Food Agreement

As part of the registration process, parents and students must agree to the following lab safety and food guidelines.
Students without the appropriate forms will not be able to participate until forms are submitted.
Contact

For more information about CTE Summer Academy, contact Beth Mehr at [email protected] .

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for updates and announcements.

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CTE Summer Academy | Fairfax County Public Schools

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A summer enrichment and skills development program for students currently in grades 7-11.

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https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

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Office of Communication and Community Relations

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Summer activities will be different this year, but kids with ADHD can still exercise their creativity, athleticism, and curiosity with these at-home ideas for projects, programming, and physical activity. What would you add?

You're worn out and summer is closing in. With no school or summer camps to offer structured activities, you're staring down the barrel of nothing but time with energetic kids - ones who are cooped up, fed up, and stressed out. Oh yeah, and you have to parent them while you work - remotely or otherwise.

My husband and I both work full-time: he's a teacher, and I'm a writer. While our jobs are flexible, they suck up more than your average eight hours a day, and we have three children with ADHD - only two of whom are medicated. We know all about the summer slide, so we want to keep our kids engaged and learning, but we also need them out of our hair for chunks of time. Here's what we've come up with.

Screens Can Be Your Friend... Interactive Ones, That Is

Many zoos, museums, and aquariums are live-streaming interactive programs for kids. These allow children to not only watch nature, science, and social studies programming engineered to entertain and inform, but to also ask live questions and participate virtually. When my sons heard their questions read - then answered - on Facebook Live, they were so excited.

Look for these opportunities in this article from USA Today, and this one, which is organized by time and date: " 1000 Things to Do During COVID-19." My kids really like the events at Scripps Aquarium and the historic Jamestown settlement.

Actually, Messenger Counts as Writing

Your kids haven't seen their friends in months. They might keep a journal if you push them. But Facebook Messenger Kids has been a huge boon to our household. Our kids use it to write (and yes, as long as they're writing, it counts as education. They're also practicing typing, which counts as real-world learning).

You'd also be shocked at the things kids will do over FB Messenger. The other morning, I caught my 10-year-old son and his best friend from another state playing Dungeons & Dragons, an imaginative, storytelling game using math that keeps them occupied and amused for hours. You can also encourage map-making to go along with the game (social studies: making compass roses, labeling cardinal directions, constructing map keys), as well as writing and drawing. D & D starter sets come cheap, too. They can play chess. They can play Monopoly (more math). I've also heard good things about Trickster - an app that allows you to play live card games with friends.
[Click to Read: Dude, You Need to Reach Out to Your Friends!]
You can also ask willing adults - grandparents are a good choice - to get in on the action. Chances are good that a grandma or great aunt would be thrilled to play Monopoly with her grandchildren for three hours! Then you can work, the kids are doing math, and everyone's happy.

Dear God, I Hope You Have a Backyard

The two smartest things we've done since isolation dropped down: my husband took his time constructing an enormous playground in our backyard, and we bought a trampoline. We also have plans to buy a cheap above-ground pool as soon as possible. This obviously isn't an option available for everyone. However, any piece of enclosed land is an opportunity for children with ADHD. Say goodbye to your manicured yard. Turn it into a vegetable garden with seeds, shovels, and hoes. Turn it into a mud pit with buckets, more shovels and a hose. Turn it into a waterpark with cheap sprinklers, water guns, and a slip n' slide. Do all of the above in turns.

Do whatever it takes to get the kids outside, keep the kids outside, and let them move. This will keep them out of your way, exhaust them, and keep them happily occupied. My kids' favorite activity is called "making a lake." They dig an enormous hole, fill it with water, and play dinosaurs around it for hours. They return muddy and sweaty and happy. My yard is a mess.

I don't care. In the time of COVID-19, who's going to see it?

All this counts as physical education. This is an integral part of camp. Why shouldn't it be an integral part of their home education as well?
[Kids Bouncing Off the Walls? These Boredom Busters Fill Time Gaps with Activity]
Put Pinterest to Work

Pinterest is overrun with craft ideas for kids. There are easy paper shark hats and cootie catchers for Shark Week. Popsicle stick mini-camping scenes. Ocean slime. American flag decorations made from sticks and paint. They can build specific things with LEGOs (Greek temples, scenes from literature, etc.). They can do plant and animal surveys of the outside, fill and watch bird feeders, etc.

Could you come up with a theme for each week of summer - like Shark Week, Beach Week, Undersea Life, 2020 Olympics, etc. - and invite a group of friends to contribute activities and resources? You could then share the whole calendar of art, craft, and activity links in a shared Google Doc for everyone to use and adapt. Your kids could jump on Zoom to watercolor or fold origami with their friends, and you'd have quite a gallery of creativity by summer's end.

Teach Them Some Useful Skills

You do things. You do real things. You cook, for example. Cooking is a real-life skill that children need to learn (which also often involves mathematics and reading). Laundry is a real-life skill that children need to learn. Making grocery lists is a real-life skill that children need to learn.

All those chores you do around the house? Those are skills your kids need to learn to function in the real world. This is important for all kids, but it's especially important for kids with ADHD, who benefit from a little more guidance and assistance is learning how to "adult" - things like shopping, cooking, balancing a checkbook, or making a list don't come naturally to most adults with ADHD. Instilling those habits in kids while you're doing them anyway is a great way to stop the summer slide and help them learn something.

Moreover, it keeps them busy. Riley can fold his own socks. Riley can clean his own room. We've instituted something called a "reward bin" filled with cheap LEGO mini-figures and stickers. Whenever our kids do a great job at a chore, they pick blindly from it. Their rooms stay cleaner now - and they stay busier.

My husband and I will be using these ideas to keep our kids learning and moving, while also managing to finish the work we need to do this summer. Fun is a priority, but sanity trumps all. Wish us luck!
[Read This Next: The Most Obvious Pandemic Parenting Advice You May Not Be Following]
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Updated on May 27, 2020

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Summer Activities for Kids with ADHD: Stay Active at Home

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Summer activities will be different this year, but kids with ADHD can still exercise their creativity, athleticism, and curiosity with these at-home ideas for projects, programming, and physical activity. What would you add? You're worn out and summer is closing in.

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13 Tips for Helping Anxious Kids Enjoy Summer Camp

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13 Tips for Helping Anxious Kids Enjoy Summer Camp

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Portraits of summer camp showcase sun-splashed children playing sports, swimming, and getting freckles. Not pictured is any sign of anxiety, a natural reaction to a new adventure and a several-week separation. All children experience a mixture of excitement and nervousness when summer camp approaches. For most, excitement trumps nerves, but some children develop anxiety serious enough to get in the way of what should be a fun, formative experience.

Summer camps hone many skills useful for future success: resilience, self-reliance, and social adaptability. The camp experience - being away from home among peers - can help kids develop social skills, separate in a healthy way from parents, and cultivate independence. Camp activities can help them build confidence by demonstrating mastery. Children are often ready for sleep-away camp around ages 10 to 12, although preparedness varies depending on age, experience, and temperament.

The key to helping your child get over pre-camp nerves is to acknowledge their feelings and give them tools to help them tame them.

1. Let your child feel a sense of ownership over the experience. Involve them in picking the summer camp; familiarize them with the camp environment and teach them about camp activities so they can formulate expectations.

2. Help your child get excited about camp: Take them shopping for new gear and focus them on fun things about camp that they can anticipate.

3. Avoid focusing on what makes children anxious. Instead of asking leading questions like, "Are you nervous about horseback riding?" ask open-ended questions like, "How are you feeling about the horses?"

4. Don't trivialize their concerns or offer glib reassurances. "There's nothing to worry about!" or "Everyone loves camp!" may discourage your child. Instead, show that you have empathy and acknowledge their concerns.

5. Focus on concrete details in conversations leading up to and during summer camp. Avoid abstract issues like what it it's like to be away from home in favor of cabin details, meals in the lodge, or campfire rituals.

6. Reflect on your own formative experiences away from home and share positive aspects of them with your child. Show that you are willing to talk about the new things they'll be doing, whether it's eating new food, sleeping in a bunkbed, getting along with cabin-mates, or coexisting with insects.

7. Go through "rehearsals." A shorter-term sleepover or a night at Grandma's will make it easier for your child to be away from home.

8. Don't linger at the bus stop. Keep the goodbyes short, as delaying just causes more mixed feelings.

9. Make communication easy and accessible: Pack envelopes and stamps, outline a schedule for phone calls or emails if they're part of the camp's routine, and make sure your child understands how easy it will be.

10. Have goals for each letter or conversation, so your child will come away focused on how they are adjusting, rather than on how much they want to come home.

11. Try not to communicate your own anxiety; your child can pick up on your feelings even if you don't verbalize them. What you want to share is your confidence in your child and the summer experience.

12. Help your child formulate realistic, goal-oriented plans for making friends or toasting the perfect marshmallow or passing a swimming test. The thrill of completing these plans can give your child a feeling of success and take his mind off his anxiety.

13. If your child has psychiatric or learning issues, don't keep them a secret. Make sure the staff and counselors know anything they need to know to head off problems and maximize their experience. Do they wet the bed? Are they anxious about water? And let your child know that counselors are there to support them, whether they have a simple question or a larger problem.

For parents who are anxious about sending kids to summer camp, remember that the cost of a good camp covers more than the arts and crafts; it includes a team of professionals and counselors committed to fostering social learning in your child

Summer camp is a unique situation where your child engages with a large community of peers and learns how to interact socially in a less-structured environment than school. This is a time for them to actively make decisions for themselves and develop a sense of self-reliance. Though you may be concerned and wish to intervene, your supportiveness will give your child room to take ownership over the experience themselves.

When should you worry that a child's pre-camp anxiety is something problematic? You might be concerned if they demonstrate physical symptoms of fear: cold or clammy hands, butterflies, faintness, headache, or nausea. Excessive tearfulness and hiding are also signs that something out-of-the-ordinary is going on. A child might have nightmares about separation, or ask questions like, "What if something happens to me or you when I'm away?" If a child's reaction is so severe that it interferes with normal functioning, it might be time to consult a mental health professional.

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13 Tips for Helping Anxious Kids Enjoy Summer Camp - Child Mind Institute

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How to clear the fear to make way for a formative summer camp experience. Here are tips for parents to make the experience a positive one.

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Move the furniture around, change the pictures on the wall, move decorative items from one room to another.
Free, Fun, and Creative:

decorate using a kitchen bowl to hold things in the bedroom or living room.

move a bathroom rug into the bedroom or kitchen.

Use a shower curtain for a picnic blanket, table cloth, or bed spread.

Use a fitted sheet to cover a chair. Drape a blanket over a couch.

stack boxes and cover with a sheet or table cloth to make a side table

Want to hide things? Move a couch or dresser away from the wall far enough to fit a box or a few bags.

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Tips for Traveling With Challenging Children 

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Tips for Traveling With Challenging Children 

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Traveling with children who are anxious, wary of change, or otherwise challenging can be daunting, precisely because it does what we expect vacations to do- take us away from the routine of home and expose us to new sights and sounds.

The temptation is to stay close to home to avoid adverse and unpredictable reactions and the possibility of meltdowns in public places. But the truth is: a kid with anxiety, autism, or any other hurdle is nevertheless 100% kid.

Shannon des Roches Rosa, autism mom, writer, and activist, sums it up well when she explains why she is adamant about taking her son on as many and various outings as possible. "Leo may have intense autism, but he is an able-bodied and energetic boy who craves adventure," she writes in a guest piece for SFGate.com. "We want Leo to be a boy-about-town so he gets used to being part of our community, and our community gets used to him."

Shannon, whose own blog is called Squidalicious, is writing about visits to museums and other local attractions, but the same argument applies to travel-it can be invaluable to your child's growth, as well as your own mental health. Here are some suggestions, assembled from various sources, to help you take control of your trip.

Plan your vacation with an eye to those times when destinations are most easily accessible and tranquil. Crowds and long waits can make children especially anxious and provoke meltdowns, so go during off-peak hours and in the off-season, if possible.

In public places, it's good to keep a mental note of the exits, and have a backup plan for a discrete getaway if one is needed. Where, in a crowded plaza, is the closest quiet spot if you need to step aside and let your youngster calm down? If you're traveling by car, try to park close to the restaurant or attraction you're visiting, to avoid the prospect of a long trek past an audience of rubber-necked onlookers.

As a parent, you try to anticipate which situations may pose the greatest challenges for a child. On plane rides, you'll want to have plenty of activities and supplies to engage her-games, books, coloring books, juiceboxes, movies, computers, or all of the above. If you have a child prone to running off, an ID bracelet gives you a little more peace of mind; dressing her in bright colors also makes it easier for you to keep her in sight.

But it's also crucial to let your child know what to expect of the upcoming trip-what new experiences she should anticipate, what might make it different from home, what might be challenging for her. She should know where she can turn for help. Going through photos of places or people a child will be meeting, or telling stories about good vacation experiences, can help a child focus her expectations in a positive way.

Or try actually writing a story about the upcoming trip, with your child as the main character. Autism consultant Carol Gray has developed a method called Social Stories, which is designed to be an engaging, interactive way of preparing children for social situations. The stories, written from the child's point of view, use narration, as well as photos and drawings, to guide the child through an experience, preparing him for social interactions that might be required and prompting desired responses. A story for a child on the autism spectrum about a trip to Florida might include travel details, things he might be nervous about, people he might meet, reassurance that his parents will be with him all the time, and activities he likes and can anticipate enjoying.

And so on. Social Stories can be used for any situation-using a public bathroom, going to school, riding on a plane. And of course, one of the best parts may be inviting your child to make it with you.

If staying in hotels and eating at restaurants puts too much stress on your child-or on you to supervise her behavior-consider online apartment rentals, so you can cook some familiar meals, have more space for family down-time, bring a familiar blanket or toy, and keep some regular routines intact.

If your child is especially skittish about new places, it may be a good compromise to revisit a familiar vacation spot where she's already had a good experience. She knows what to expect, and you get to increase the odds that you'll all be able to relax.

If your child needs special accommodations to make a travel experience rewarding, don't hesitate to ask for them. Did you know that some airports are agreeable to "fake" security checks for children with autism, so you can practice the procedure in advance of the big day? Many establishments have extra amenities or special provisions that might be a godsend to you, but they probably don't advertise them. Restaurants can give you tables closer to the exit. Disneyland and Six Flags have special passes that allow kids to skip lines; some of these require proof that your child needs accommodation, so consider bringing documentation. Extra effort (and assertiveness) on the front end can cut your child needed slack later.

And if you find your child drawing stares or censorious looks, don't let them spoil your vacation. Here des Roches Rosa is a role model. She writes of her son Leo, "I do not care if other people think he behaves strangely or makes funny noises; as long as he is not harming or interrupting anyone, we carry on with heads raised, meeting stranger's stares with confident and unapologetic smiles that I will admit to having practiced in the bathroom mirror." Focus on making the experience good for your family.

A perfect vacation is impossible, but every vacation is perfectly instructional. What worked-and what didn't-can be logged in your inventory of subsequent to-dos and not-to-dos. What was surprisingly successful, and what will you avoid next time? As des Roches Rosa wisely tries to do, think of failure as an investment in future success.

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Tips for Traveling With Challenging Children - Child Mind Institute

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How to minimize stress and maximize fun for everyone. Tips for traveling with challenging children and ensuring an enjoyable vacation.

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Learn to Geocache with kids - easy and cheap way to get outside and learn geography

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Learn to Geocache with kids - easy and cheap way to get outside and learn geography

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It doesn't get much better than water play on a hot summer day. I am always looking for new ways to make playing with and pouring water more fun. This pool noodle pour station took only a few minutes to set up and has entertained my kids for several days straight! This activity incorporates gross motor skills, sensory play and problem solving....not to mention it's just plain fun!

Pool Noodle Pour Station Video

Check out the below video to see the Pour Station in action:

Materials Needed: (affiliate links)

How to Make a Pool Noodle Pour Station:

1. Start by having an adult cut your pool noodles into 1-2 feet sections using the bread knife.

2. Next take your pool noodle pieces and using a pipe cleaner secure them to a chain link fence or piece of lattice next to the house. Wrap the ends of the pip cleaner together and then stick them into the pool noodle to hold in place.

3. (Optional) Keep one noodle long and set up an extra bin to catch water that's poured down the long noodle.

4. Now add the funnels to the tops of the pool noodles.

5. Place the large plastic bin below the pool noodles and fill the bin about 1/4-1/2 of the way full of water.

6. Add some measuring cups to use as pourers.

7. Now step into m the plastic bin and start to pour the water into the funnels. As the water falls through the funnels it is caught in the plastic bin and can be reused and poured again and again.

Variations for Older Kids:

My oldest son (age 10) used the measuring cups to see how much of the water he could catch on the bottom after he poured it through the top. He found that it he poured 1 cup of water, he was able to catch about 1/2 a cup at the bottom.

More Summer Activities for Kids

Looking for more fun, outdoor activities for kids? Check out some of our favorites:

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Pool Noodle Pour Station * ages 2+ ⋆ Raising Dragons

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It doesn't get much better than water play on a hot summer day. I am always looking for new ways to make playing with and pouring water more fun. This pool noodle pour station took only a few minutes to set up and has entertained my kids for several days straight!

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24 Things Middle and High School Students Can Do to Keep Busy This Summer

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24 Things Middle and High School Students Can Do to Keep Busy This Summer

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Dear Teen,

The times have found you. That's what they say to generations faced with difficult times. I know you didn't ask for this honor.

For what it's worth, I'm sorry you have had to shoulder the burden of living through a pandemic. I wish you didn't have to spend last year taking classes online, far from your friends and your independence. But now that the year is over, and things are opening back up, here are 24 ideas for things you can do this summer.

Here are things that teens can do this summer. (Twenty20 @kayp)

And when I say do something, what I really mean is, do anything. Seriously. Get out of bed (preferably before 11 AM). Get yourself some breakfast (you really don't need me to do that anymore). And fill your day with small increments of activity. Create a schedule - or at least a list, of what you want to fill your day with. (Helpful tip for list-making: Write down something you've done already, so you can cross it off.)

What's that? I can hear you mumbling there's nothing to do. Hogwash, I say. There is always something to do.

24 summer activities for teens

1. Learn something by heart. A poem, a song, the Declaration of Independence.

2. Make something with your hands: knit a scarf, build a bench, create a rock garden. It doesn't have to be perfect. Or pretty.

3. Read The Diary of Anne Frank. It will give you some needed perspective. And when you are finished with that, just read. Every day.

4. Find something broken and fix it.

5. Make good use of your screen time (and get a newfound appreciation for all of your precious devices) by learning a thing or two about STEM.

6. Ride your bike. It's waiting for you in the garage.

7. Run around the block. Ten times.

8. Don't want to ride or run? Then choose an activity, but do something physical every day. There are a gazillion workout videos that you can download if you prefer to work out at home.

9. Clean your room. Get rid of the stuff you don't use anymore. There is plenty of it.

10. Help me in the kitchen and let's cook something new every week. Look through cookbooks or go online to find a recipe you want to make. I'm game.

11. Grab a sibling or friend and play catch, or bounce a tennis ball off a wall. See how long you can dribble a basketball.

12. Tour a museum in person or online. You can make the trip without me and in a virtual sense, the world is your oyster. You can start at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and end up in an Egyptian tomb.

13. Design a new board game, write a screenplay, produce a video.

14. Write a poem, a story, a letter to a friend. Write one haiku a day. It's only 17 syllables. You can do it.

15. Find something you are curious about and learn about it. It could be a language. Or, history. Or, Mars. Just pick. One. Thing.

16. Wash the dishes that you put in the sink.

17. Leave your phone in another room and be bored for 30 minutes. Stare out the window. Look up at the sky. Just be.

18. Design a trivia quiz with a new theme every week. Professional sports, the French Revolution, weird pets. Share it with friends and family. Here's one to get you started.

19. Have a contest to see who can find the most interesting podcast. Can't find one you like? Then come up with your own.

20. Do something nice for somebody else. Kindness is just as contagious as the coronavirus.

21. Enjoy the Summer Olympics with me. We had to wait a whole year for live sports to come back and this extra special event only comes once every four years.

22. Watch a silent movie, or an old one, just something that is not typically "recommended for you" by Netflix.

23. Figure out the answer to one thing you've always wanted to know.

24. Find out something about a relative you never knew. Try this out on your friends, too. Get and stay curious. Think about it. When you think about the Global Pandemic of 2020-21, don't you want to have something interesting to say about how you emerged from it?

Love,

Mom
More to Read: Summer Vacation: 30 Ways Teens Can Make the Most of Free Time How Middle and High School Students Can Learn Stem this Summer

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24 Things Middle and High School Students Can Do to Keep Busy This Summer

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Now that life is opening up again for our teens, here is a list of things that they can do this summer to

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Ingredients: baking soda, contact lens solution, school glue, food coloring

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Summer Make and Take:  How to Make Slime

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Using small, interesting containers and spoons, mix baking soda and vinegar a little at a time. Keep a towel close by for easy clean-up. Let kids experiment with proportions, swirling, stirring, adding water, pouring between containers, etc. Doing it on the floor or kitchen table has the added benefit of gently cleaning the surface with the harmless chemical reaction.

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Create something new each day.

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Kids who know how to take basic photos and navigate apps can easily create their own cool stop-motion videos. This app is one of many free options. Kids 2nd grade & up can figure it out with just a little learning curve, and all ages (up to adult) enjoy the process. Kids can use whatever materials they are comfortable with to create the animation: legos, stuffed animals, pieces of pasta, rocks, drawings, etc. Once they understand how, creating a video will keep them occupied for quite a while: 1 minute video can easily take 30 minutes or more to film!

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Make an adventure map of your home or neighborhood

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Make an adventure map of your home or neighborhood

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Crafts to support literacy how-to and videos

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The images in these books are beautiful and captivating for all ages. Use them as inspiration for story-telling, pretend-play, writing your own story, adding captions, creating your own art, etc.

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Wordless Picture Books_ Must-Reads for Older Readers _ Scholastic _ Parents

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A long list of museum collections and guided tours that are available. Choose one and browse. Then come back for more!

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In the blink of an eye, once-crowded museums sit empty. We're preparing ourselves for social distancing and potential quarantine. This is the time for museum technology to step up and fill the void. The potential of online collections, virtual tours, and social media campaigns have always been there, but now the opportunity for impact is incalculable.

Access to endless open content. Educational resources for e-learning. Virtual retreats to art, culture, and history around the globe. This is the museum technology community's time to shine!

If you're a museum tech enthusiast looking to be part of the conversation, join one of MCN's Special Interest Groups (SIGs). They are currently free for non-members so more can share resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This list will be continually updated with examples of museum and museum-adjacent virtual awesomeness. It is by no means exhaustive. If you have a virtual museum or museum-adjacent resource to contribute on behalf of your organization, please fill out this Google Form.

Every resource is free to access and enjoy.
Much of it, though not all, is also open content, in the sense that it's freely reusable and re-mixable under Creative Commons licensing. Open content is clearly labeled on its respective website.

PORTALS

Image: V21 Artspace
VIRTUAL TOURS / ONLINE EXHIBITS

Art and Culture Museums

History Museums

Natural Science Museums

National Parks

Online Exhibits

E-LEARNING

Created for Kids

ONLINE COLLECTIONS

Art and Cultural Collections

Science Collections

History Collections

DIGITAL ARCHIVES & LIBRARIES
Huge thanks to the many who have written helpful blogs with their favorite museum tech resources. Your contributions are all included here: Cuseum, Mia Ridge, Jenni Fuchs, and Alicja Peszkowska.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Articles on COVID's Impact on Museums

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The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources | MCN

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In the blink of an eye, once-crowded museums sit empty. We're preparing ourselves for social distancing and potential quarantine. This is the time for museum technology to step up and fill the void. The potential of online collections, virtual tours, and social media campaigns have always been there, but now the opportunity for impact is incalculable.

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Use sidewalk chalk to draw obstacles for kids to navigate. A long line to tip-toe across, big circles to jump into, areas not to touch,  alternating rectangles were you must hop/run/crawl/walk backwards, etc. Use your imagination and your child can be a ninja, monster truck, dancer, spy, etc. Use it for older kids like a gauntlet for agility training.

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Try This Scavenger Hunt With Your Kids, No Matter the Season

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With tips for what to look for and how to teach them about the great outdoors.

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Citizen Science to learn about the birds in your area

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Citizen Science to learn about the birds in your area

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eBird - Discover a new world of birding...

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eBird transforms your bird sightings into science and conservation. Plan trips, find birds, track your lists, explore range maps and bird migration—all free.

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Don't skip the intro - it's great

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NASA, JPL, and Google bring the real surface of Mars to your browser.

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maps, 3D tours, stories, codes, etc.

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Discovering Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt, the lives of the pharaohs and their world has been a constant interest throughout my life. It began at the age of five when my grandfather entertained me with stories about the ancient Egyptians. He also gave me a respect for scientific method, inspired me with an appreciation of art and taught me to examine the world around me through observational drawing. As a result I grew up to become an artist with a love of science and Egyptology.

My artistic works over forty years have been heavily influenced by ancient Egyptian artistic conventions and my later works, writing books and reconstructing Egyptian monuments, are the result of twenty years of drawings, paintings, photos and observational notes I made while travelling the Egyptian Nile.

I apply a meticulous regard for material evidence and archaeological knowledge in my work. So if you believe that aliens built the pyramids this website is not for you and I do not reply to emails containing such ideas.

I hope you enjoy this website it has a basic description of hieroglyphic writing, you can have fun with the Hieroglyphic Typewriter - you can write your name in the ancient script and email secret messages to your friends. You will also learn about Egyptian numerals and test your knowledge with some mathematical problems set out using the ancient numbers.

There are stories of the great kings & queens, the ancient Egyptian gods and mummification is covered with diagrams and videos. In the pyramid & temple section you can explore the ancient monuments; using interactive maps, photos, drawings, and paintings. Also check out 3D Temples and see how these shrines, to the gods, may have appeared to ancient eyes.
Mark Millmore

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Discovering Ancient Egypt hieroglyphs pharaohs pyramids mummification

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Discovering Ancient Egypt pharaohs, pyramids, temples, mummification, Egyptian gods hieroglyphic write your name in hieroglyphs Hieroglyphic Typewriter.

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Have them join the journey as Drew, creative director of TIME for Kids, and his sidekick Rosie explore their imaginations and dream up fun things to sketch.

Episode 7: Book Covers, with Raina Telgemeier

Episode 6: Master Copy

Episode 5: Step-by-Step

Episode 4: Landscapes

Episode 3: Teacher Appreciation Week

Episode 2: Let's Draw Self Portraits

Episode 1: Let's Draw a Giraffe

Drew Willis is the creative director of TIME for Kids (TFK) and an accomplished children's book illustrator. He has worked with Andrea, TFK's editor-in-chief, since before her daughter Rosie was born. For her entire life, Rosie has admired Drew's artwork. She sent him a card one year with Santa drawn on it, and received a reply that was her favorite holiday gift-Drew sent her a thank-you note that included a Santa drawing of his own. Rosie immediately hung it on her wall, and started work on her next drawing for Drew. This was the beginning of a fun new tradition for the pair: passing hand-drawn pictures back and forth.
Now it's your turn to join the fun!
On "Draw with Drew (and Rosie)," these two avid artists tackle different drawing subjects and offer hints to help make your kids' artwork the best it can be.

Have your child draw along with Drew and Rosie. Then, you can share the finished picture on social media using the hashtag #DrawWithDrew, or email it to tfkeditors@time.com. (Parents: Please include first name only, if any, on the art itself.)*

Draw with Drew (and Rosie!) is a FREE global offering from TIME for Kids to support teachers, families and students. TIME for Kids brought the in-classroom publication to homes for the first time with the launch of the TIME for Kids free digital library, available through July. Register here: time.com/tfk-free

This show was made in collaboration with our Creativity Partner, Adobe.

About TIME For Kids

Since 1995, TIME for Kids has delivered current events from TIME news bureaus around the world to millions of students in elementary and middle school classrooms across the U.S. Each week, TIME for Kids presents news in a format that teaches young readers to become critical thinkers and informed citizens. As an educational publication, the mission of TIME for Kids is to help teachers engage students with the world around them and inspire kids to join the conversation about current events.

As teachers navigate the uncharted territory of virtual instruction, TIME for Kids is supporting educators with FREE access to current issues, teaching materials, curriculum guides, and weekly virtual learning plans for each TIME for Kids issue. Register for FREE digital access here: https://time.com/tfk-free/
*By tagging photos using #DrawWithDrew, or emailing them to tfkeditors@time.com, you are granting TFK and TIME (as well as those they authorize) a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the submissions, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including but not limited to, advertising and promotion of TFK and TIME publications, websites, and platforms.

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Have them join the journey as Drew, creative director of TIME for Kids, and his sidekick Rosie explore their imaginations and dream up fun things to sketch. Drew Willis is the creative director of TIME for Kids (TFK) and an accomplished children's book illustrator.

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Experiments to do at home

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At Home Science Experiments | Steve Spangler Science Lab

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A collection of Science Experiments from Steve Spangler Science |

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Family Edition of Cards Against Humanity, Free Download to print and cut

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Family Edition of Cards Against Humanity, Free Download to print and cut

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Be warned, there are A LOT of poop jokes!

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A whole new game for kids and adults to play together.

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Outdoor Summer Kids Game | Hula Hoop Lasso Challenge | Kids Summer Activity Outdoor Game

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Alphabet Hopscotch 🔠 ages 3-6 🔡 Here's a great way to practice the alphabet while building gross motor skills and all you need is sidewalk chalk ( affiliate link)! My 5 year old loved it and even my older boys had fun making their way through the alphabet. So simple to set up and great for getting kids outside and moving!

WHAT TO DO:

1. Start by writing the letter A

2. Then proceed to write B as well as another letter (like J or O). The objective is to give them choices between two or three letters so they can make their way through the alphabet by identifying the correct letters.

3. Then write letter C and another letter (like K or L) . Continue until you've made it to letter Z.

4. Once finished, ask the child to start at the letter A and moved through the hopscotch by jumping to the next letter in the alphabet.

My boys loved this and even my older boys (ages 7 & 9) enjoyed making their way through the alphabet!

Check out our other outdoor activities!

About Raising Dragons

Raising Dragons is a site dedicated to raising strong, smart, amazing kids! Our focus is on creating activities that can easily be pulled together with items you have around the house. We believe learning should be fun and accessible for everyone and can be done with everyday objects! We also know parents are busy and don't have lots of time to pull together activities so we keep things very SIMPLE! Check out some of our favorite activities like: Writing Letters in Sprinkles, Alphabet Lids, Calm Down Sensory Bottle and the Paper Towel Roll & Pom Pom Challenge.

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Alphabet Hopscotch * ages 3-6 ⋆ Raising Dragons

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Alphabet Hopscotch 🔠 ages 3-6 🔡 Here's a great way to practice the alphabet while building gross motor skills and all you need is sidewalk chalk ( affiliate link)! My 5 year old loved it and even my older boys had fun making their way through the alphabet.

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Obstacle courses are a favorite activity in our house. We usually make them outside, but sometimes we can be outside and an indoor course can be just as fun! This indoor obstacle course for kids was fun to set up (the kids did most of it) and even more fun to run through!

Indoor Obstacle Course Video

Check out the below video to see the course in action:

Materials Needed To Make a Course Like Ours

Painter's Tape

Sticky Notes

Marker

Sensory Writing Tray

Letter Flash Cards

Empty bottle

Toothpicks

Tray (optional)

10 paper or plastic cups

Candy or a prize at the end

What to Do

1. Select a starting point for your course. I let my kids take the lead in creating this course and then I joined later on to see if it all made sense.

2. Once you have a general route mapped out, create a starting line using painters tape.

3. Draw letters A-Z on post it notes and lay them out on the floor in no particular order. The first challenge of the course is to put the letters in order.

4. The second challenge of the course is to write 3 letters in a sensory tray. You can use your finger, a paintbrush or anything you can fine. We used a packing peanut.

5. Includes lots of jumps, arrows, and turns using painters tape on your course. We used the tape on furniture, the floor and the doorways to guide users through the course.

6. Our next challenge required an empty bottle, toothpicks and a tray. Try to drop the toothpick in the bottle. We used a bottle with a small opening and it was quite challenging. You could use a larger opening to make it easier but this was fun to try and master!

7. Next up is the cup stacking challenge. Have 10 cups in a stack and challenge the user to make a pyramid using the cups.

8. Next spin 3 times then go under the tape. The kids liked to crab walk under the tape so add that in for an extra twist.

9. Now stop and floss!

10. Next up snap your fingers 10 times.

11. Now stop and do 10 sit-ups. You're almost done!

12. Finally cross the finish and collect your prize (candy for us)!

Variations

There are a million ways to do an indoor course and our is just one of those ways. I challenged the boys to do most of this course themselves, and then I added a few challenges to make it a bit educational and STEAM focused. Building the course is actually a STEAM challenge in itself and they worked on it for a good hour before I joined in to help! There were a few disagreements along the way, but in the end they worked together to come up with the majority of the course themselves.

Looking for an outdoor obstacle course? Then check out our Pool Noodle Obstacle Course here. It's so much fun and super simple to set up!

And don't forget to check out our NEW book-100 Easy STEAM Activitiesis full of fun games and creative projects to learn early concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math with materials you already have around the house!

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Indoor Obstacle Course for Kids ⋆ Raising Dragons

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Obstacle courses are a favorite activity in our house. We usually make them outside, but sometimes we can be outside and an indoor course can be just as fun! This indoor obstacle course for kids was fun to set up (the kids did most of it) and even more fun to run through!

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Make bubbles with a left-over quick-fill water balloon attachment

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Make bubbles with a left-over quick-fill water balloon attachment

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Turn homemade bubbles into a huge mountain of bubbles! Your kids will love this outdoor activity.

How to Make Bubble Mountains

Bubble Mountains 💡 ages 2+ 💡

Recently I've been obsessed in finding another use for the hose attachment that comes with those packs of quick fill water balloons. I just kept thinking there must be a way to reuse these. Then one day it hit me...bubbles! And boy did it work well - we made mountains and mountains of bubbles! And to top it all off, this is an excellent activity for building oral motor skills, fine motor skills and crossing the midline.

MATERIALS NEEDED TO MAKE BUBBLE MOUNTAINS (affiliate links):

HOW TO MAKE BUBBLE MOUNTAINS:

1. Start by putting a small amount of dish soap and water in a bowl and mix.

2. Wash the hose attachment that comes with quick fill water balloons (great recycle opportunity)

3. Dip the straw end of the hose attachment into the soapy mix and remove.

3. Blow into the hose attachment end and watch the bubbles form!

4. Repeat dipping in the soap water mix as needed.

Check out the below video to watch the bubble making in action:

TIPS FOR MAKING BUBBLE MOUNTAINS:

Try blowing softly into the hose end as it will allow more bubbles to form.

Put the ends of the straws inside the bubble mountains and blow to make even more bubbles! It also makes the bubbles already in the mountain even bigger!

You can pick up some of the bubbles using the straw attachment and they won't pop!

Love bubbles as much as we do? Check out our slime bubbles activity!

More Educational and Fun Activities for Kids

Raising Dragons is a site dedicated to raising strong, smart, amazing kids! Our focus is on creating activities that can easily be pulled together with items you have around the house. We believe learning should be fun and accessible for everyone and can be done with everyday objects!

We also know parents are busy and don't have lots of time to pull together activities so we keep things very SIMPLE! Check out some of our favorite activities like:

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Bubble Mountains - Genius Bubble Maker Hack * ages 2+ ⋆ Raising Dragons

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Turn homemade bubbles into a huge mountain of bubbles! Your kids will love this outdoor activity. Bubble Mountains 💡 ages 2+ 💡 Recently I've been obsessed in finding another use for the hose attachment that comes with those packs of quick fill water balloons. I just kept thinking there must be a way to reuse these.

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Write numbers (and symbols for older kids) and have them spray/wash away the answers to questions you give. Or, have them spray away number families or create their own mathematical expression.

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Math Activities for Preschoolers - Water Hose Math Game - fun kids outdoor summer activity

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Water Play for Toddlers 💦 ages 1-3 💦 Alexander has been obsessed with helping pour milk into his bottle everyday so I thought I would give him his own version to play with. He absolutely loved it!!! I ended up adding some more kitchen utensils as he continued to play. He loved this activity and played for almost an hour! 👍🏻😀

Posted in Age 2-3, Early Learning, Outdoor/Summer, Toddler Activities, Under 2

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Water Play for Toddlers * ages 1-3 ⋆ Raising Dragons

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Water Play for Toddlers 💦 ages 1-3 💦 Alexander has been obsessed with helping pour milk into his bottle everyday so I thought I would give him his own version to play with. He absolutely loved it!!! I ended up adding some more kitchen utensils as he continued to play.

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sign into Facebook to watch this quick video on using water balloons for math practice

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Brainstorm any and all activities that might be fun or valuable. Put them on a wall when it’s accomplished, put the card in an envelope. Every once in a while review the finished cards. It feels good to have accomplished so much!

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Simple Steps To Get Ridiculously Organized For A Stress‐Free Summer

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Simple Steps To Get Ridiculously Organized For A Stress‐Free Summer

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Free Summer

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Work with friends or neighbors to start a food drive, park clean-up, positivity messages, etc.

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Volunteer Fairfax is building a better community through service. Get involved with volunteering or get help finding volunteers to fill your opportunities.

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Use your social media or work connections to find another child somewhere else in the world (or around the block) and set the kids up writing letters or emails.
This is especially great for older kids and teens who are looking for a little extra age-appropriate socialization.

****SAFETY***** Consider privacy and security when sharing personal information such as age and location. Only connect you child with another person who you know and trust. As a parent, it is your responsibility to decide what is safe and appropriate for your child.

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Thys hasn't tried every single idea on this list, but hopes to before the summer is over!

Summer has arrived, school is out, and the sun's hot and shining. You're a teenager and you've got tons of spare time, but you just don't know what to do with it. Summer can be a fun time, but it get boring when you run out of ideas.

Here are 100 things for teens to do over summer break. These ideas are fun, for indoors and out, mostly cheap, and will help you get the most out of summer. These ideas are in no particular order and include a variety of activities whatever the weather. They're not just for teens either. Parents, younger children, and the anyone young-at-heart who is looking for some summer fun can enjoy this list.

Have fun and stay safe!

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Thys hasn't tried every single idea on this list, but hopes to before the summer is over! Summer has arrived, school is out, and the sun's hot and shining. You're a teenager and you've got tons of spare time, but you just don't know what to do with it.

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I love to help my fellow moms and dads find great books for kids and every Monday I share a list of our favorite reads. If you are looking for picture books to read aloud, chapter books to enjoy together or books for your emerging reader, I have a book list that will help you.

Be sure to scroll down the page to find what you are looking for. Book lists are grouped by type and age range.

If you'd like to keep up with our book lists, please join our email list.

As a bribe thank you I even have a special printable bookplate for your kids to color and affix inside their books. You will receive a weekly newsletter that arrives in your inbox, so not only will you get the book lists, but also our indoor activity ideas, parenting thoughts and game suggestions.

Picture books are an amazing way to inspire your kids to look at the world from new perspectives. They introduce vocabulary, ideas and spark the imagination. Reading out loud to your kids from day one sets them up for success. And don't forget, picture books are not just for little kids. Read picture books to upper elementary and middle school kids (dare I say teenagers, too?) and your whole family reap the benefits.

Inspiring picture books:

These are picture book lists that will inspire kids to create, dream and spread kindness in their community.

Picture books about integrity & emotions:

Values

Emotional Life

Community

Books for Toddlers and Babies:

Multicultural and diverse picture books:

Please note that I make a concerted attempt to make sure all my book lists are diverse and feature protagonists from all walks of life; these are book lists specifically targeted at diversity.

For diverse holiday books, scroll down to the bottom of this page.

General Themes

By Identity

By Age

Picture Books about Social Issues

Seasonal-Based Picture Books:

For holiday themed picture book lists scroll down to the bottom of this page.

Fantasy Themed Picture Books

General Picture Books (Must Read, Gift Guides, Etc.):

Other Themed Picture Book Lists:

Are you looking for picture books about a particular topic? Dragons, moons, snow, math or picnics, for example? I try to find out-of-the-box topics as well as more common ones. I take the time to read all the books I recommend so I know you will love them too.

Picture Books about Concepts

I don't have a big range of books about concepts because they can widely be found elsewhere. Concept books are frequently used to teach preschoolers and elementary-aged kids. For example, books about colors, shapes or letters and numbers fall into this category. I have a handful of concept book lists to choose from below:

Favorite Books of the Year

In the past I have shared 1-4 lists each year of my favorite newly published picture books. I'm sort of a nerd when it comes to following the latest publication trends and I love to apprise you of my findings! The book on these lists stand the test of time, and even though the lists may be a few years old, the children's picture books on them are still worth reading.

Poetry

I have a huge soft spot for poetry but I know it can be a tricky thing to love for many people. That's why if you are new to poetry, I advise you approach poetry with baby steps. No need to start with Byron. My goal is for you and your family to come to learn to love poetry and I'm confident these books will do the trick!

First read:

Then read:

Folktales

Reading folktales to my kids has opened my heart and mind to the splendid power of traditional story telling. There is a reason why these tales have survived through the centuries. Folktale books speak to everyone, no matter what his or her age. I know you and your kids will adore these comforting and thought-provoking folktale picture books.

Easy readers are books for kids who are learning how to read. But so many of them are torturously bad! If you are tired of listening to your kids sound out books about Thomas the Train and Dora check out some of these selections, instead. (But, please, never criticize your child's reading selections to them!)

These books are for kids who have graduated past easy readers but are not yet ready for middle grade fiction. The age range for these books is approximately 6-10 years and each list has books in the easy to challenging range.

Parents looking for this type of book will find my parent tips for choosing early chapter books useful.

Early Chapter Books by Interest

Early Chapter Books by Protagonist

Early Chapter Books by Genre

Read Alike Early Chapter Books

General

Middle grade books are aimed at kids ages 8 to 13. Think: A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter and Holes. ( See also, "READ ALOUDS", below)

Read Alike Middle Grade Books

I aim to go beyond the usual suspects and recommend thrilling books to your kids who have been turned on to reading through a favorite series.

Books by Age:

These age categories are not mutually exclusive so don't feel restricted to any one list based on your child's age! They are often based on what my son was reading at that age.

Books by Grade:

Other Themed Middle Grade Books Lists

These themed book lists range from narrow interests ( like princesses!) to more general "favorites" book lists. Don't see the theme you are looking for? Email me!

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Funny

Mystery

Adventure

Hobbies and Interests

General Interest

Diverse and Multicultural Middle Grade Books

Note that I attempt to make all my themed and age-range lists inclusive of a variety of experiences. These lists simple focus on a more narrow cultural, social or ethnic identity.

General

By Identity

Books about Tough Subjects

I did a series of lists featuring 20th century book and chose 10 books for each decade. I selected a few well-known books, but primarily included lesser known titles to expose kids ( and parents) to books they may otherwise have missed. The books range from early chapter books to middle grade fiction. UPDATE: I'm now working through the decades with picture books.

By Age

Graphic Novels by Type

These are books I've singled out that are wonderful to read together. Children are able to understand read alouds at a higher level than their reading level. If you have kids with a large age gap, try my parent tips for reading to differently-aged kid s.

Of course, all these books can be read independently, as well. Amy of Sunlit Pages wrote a wonderful guest post for me about helping young children learn to love chapter books.

Read Aloud by Age/Grade

Ages are general suggestions, not limiting recommendations.

Other Themed Read Aloud Books

Seasonal Family Read Alouds

Seasonal book lists are some of my favorites to curate! Inclusion on one of these lists doesn't necessarily mean the book is about that season, just that I believe reading the book aloud evokes the feeling of that season. In addition, these lists include some of our all time favorite read aloud books. Cozy up!

Monthly Family Read Alouds

This is a new series I'm working on, so check back for updates! Each book list will contain picture books, chapter books and poetry -- all perfect for reading aloud to the kids during the year.

Is a holiday coming up? I've got a few suggestions! I put my best effort into making sure each of these holiday book lists contains a diverse selection of titles.

Spring Holidays

Summer Holidays

Fall Holidays

Winter Holidays

These books range from picture books to middle grade nonfiction. I've included biographies in this category, as well. I am definitely a fiction reader but this is a kids book lists category I am looking to expand. Email me with your suggestions!

Biographies and History

Women's History

Presidents

Diverse History

Math, Nature and Science Books

Math

Science

Environment, Animals

Humans

Space

Misc. Nonfiction

Don't forget! If you don't want to miss my weekly book list ( or other parenting and kid activity ideas) you can subscribe to receive email updates.
Please note: I strongly advocate you check out books from the library! However, all of my book lists contain affiliate links.

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I love to help my fellow moms and dads find great books for kids and every Monday I share a list of our favorite reads. If you are looking for picture books to read aloud, chapter books to enjoy together or books for your emerging reader, I have a book list that will help you.

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Yoga Learning Adventures specializes in yoga for kids and professional development for educators. Today, teachers and students face more stress than ever - t...

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40 Hilarious Knock, Knock Jokes for Kids - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

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40 Hilarious Knock, Knock Jokes for Kids - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

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These jokes are clean and family friendly and will definitely get everyone laughing.

I think knock, knock jokes are a childhood rite of passage. Yes, they're corny and goofy, but kids LOVE them! And then of course then they have to make up their own - which make absolutely no sense at all! 🙂

We love all kinds of jokes, so be sure to check out our hilarious jokes for kids. You'll also want to print these funny lunchbox joke cards.
This post was updated July 2019. Now onto the jokes...
Knock, knock. Who's there? Goliath. Goliath who? Goliath down, you look-eth tired!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Broccoli? Broccoli who? Broccoli doesn't have a last name, silly.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Wooden shoe. Wooden shoe who? Wooden shoe like to hear another joke?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Amish. Amish who? Really? You don't look like a shoe!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Boo. Boo hoo? Why are you crying?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Atch. Atch who? Bless you!

Knock, knock. Who's there? A little old lady. A little old lady who? I didn't know you could yodel!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Cows go. Cows go who? No silly, cows go MOO!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Harry. Harry who? Harry up and answer the door!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Cash. Cash who? No thanks, but I'll take a peanut if you have one!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Big interrupting cow. Big interrupting cow who? MOOOOOOO!
(The MOOO needs to be delivered while the other person is still asking big interrupting cow who - this is fun to watch kids try to get the timing right! 🙂 )
Knock, knock. Who's there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe come out and play with me?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Lettuce. Lettuce who? Lettuce in, it's cold out here!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Mikey. Mikey who? Mikey doesn't fit in the key hole!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Stopwatch. Stopwatch who? Stopwatch you're doing and let me in!

Knock, knock. Who's there? I am. I am who? You don't know who you are?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Ice cream. Ice cream who? Ice cream if you don't let me in!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Doctor. Doctor who? You've seen that TV show?
(My almost 7 year old came up with this one, and he was so proud! Although I'm sure that someone somewhere has thought of this same idea.)
Knock, knock. Who's there? Yah. Yah who? No, I prefer google.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Nana. Nana who? Nana your business!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Justin. Justin who? Justin the neighborhood and thought I'd come over!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Theodore. Theodore who? Theodore is stuck and it won't open!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Tennis. Tennis who? Tennis five plus five.

Knock, knock. Who's there? To. To who? It's to whom.
This next one is for the grammar police, ha ha!
Knock, knock. Who's there? Owls say. Owls say who? Yes, they do!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Kanga. Kanga who? No, it's kangaroo!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Nuisance. Nuisance who? What's new since yesterday?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Doris. Doris who? Door is locked, that's why I'm knocking!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you going to open the door?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Banana. Banana who?

(repeat a few more times)

Knock, knock. Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Candice. Candice who? Candice door open, or what?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Spell. Spell who? Okay, w-h-o.

Knock, knock. Who's there? Alpaca. Alpaca who? Alpaca the suitcase, you load the car!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Tank. Tank who? You're welcome!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Cargo. Cargo who? No, car go BEEP BEEP!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Leaf. Leaf who? Leaf me alone!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Isabel. Isabel who? Isabel working? I had to knock!

Knock, knock. Who's there? Dishes. Dishes who? Dishes the police! Open up!

Yes.
Will you remember me in a year?
Will you remember me in a month?

Yes.

Will you remember me in a week?

Yes.

Will you remember me in a day?

Yes.

Knock, knock. Who's there? See, you forgot me already!
Want more jokes? Here are 75 Hilarious Jokes for Kids (not knock, knock jokes)

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40 Hilarious Knock, Knock Jokes for Kids - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls

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These jokes are clean and family friendly and will definitely get everyone laughing. I think knock, knock jokes are a childhood rite of passage. Yes, they're corny and goofy, but kids LOVE them! And then of course then they have to make up their own - which make absolutely no sense at all!

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Family Resource Center collection of information and resources about all types of special education and disability-related needs. 

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Family Resource Center collection of information and resources about all types of special education and disability-related needs. 

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Includes: at home, on vacation, at camp, blank, and Spanish

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Firefly Watch combines an annual summer evening ritual with scientific research. Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies.

Contact Us

You can always email us at fireflywatch@massaudubon.org.

Why Watch Fireflies?

Are firefly populations growing or shrinking, and what could lead to changes in their populations?

Mass Audubon has teamed up with researchers from Tufts University to track the fate of these amazing insects.

With your help, we hope to learn about the geographic distribution of fireflies and what environmental factors impact their abundance.

Join the Project

Anyone in North America can participate in Firefly Watch. All you need to do is spend at least 10 minutes once a week during firefly season observing fireflies in one location (your backyard or in a nearby field). All firefly sightings-or lack thereof-are valuable!
How to participate > If you have participated through Museum of Science (MOS), you will need to create a new account with Mass Audubon. Any data you've entered on the MOS site this year is not displayed on our sighting map but will be retained.

Observation Data & More

View Data & Maps

View maps that show current and past firefly observation data.

Browse Data >

Resources to Learn More

Want to learn more about all kinds of fireflies including past and present research into these fascinating insects?
Check out these resources >

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Firefly Watch combines an annual summer evening ritual with scientific research. Join a network of citizen scientists around the country by observing your own backyard, and help scientists map fireflies. You can always email us at fireflywatch@massaudubon.org. Are firefly populations growing or shrinking, and what could lead to changes in their populations?

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Use this tool to find activities you can do at home to stay active

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Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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You can get more physical activity! Use this tool to find tips and set weekly goals. #MoveYourWay

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If your kids don’t already know how to play, this as good of a time as any to learn. Each of my squares is 5’x5’, but you can use whatever space you have. I drew it with side walk chalk.

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AFYP is still working on summer camp programs and has not yet decided whether to conduct camp in person or virtually. Check their website for updates.

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Please visit our pages on the Mason Community Arts Academy website to register for Summer Programs!

SUMMER 2020 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
In response to COVID-19, and for the safety of our community and the world at large, George Mason University has moved all Summer 2020 programs to online platforms. We are excited to announce that through enthusiastic support from our faculty and staff, we have redesigned our summer acting camps to present the best possible, enriching online experience! Students will receive a mix of live-streamed interactive classes, opportunities for group learning, and video resources, all taught by the same experienced acting teachers and staff. This will be a unique, safe, and engaging experience that will inspire young artists, as well as provide a positive outlet for students and families.

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MCAA Summer Programs - Acting For Young People

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In response to COVID-19, and for the safety of our community and the world at large, George Mason University has moved all Summer 2020 programs to online platforms. We are excited to announce that through enthusiastic support from our faculty and staff, we have redesigned our summer acting camps to present the best possible, enriching online experience!

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Helping your kid become a future

astronaut.

astronaut.

graduate.

scientist.

chef.

architect.

musician.

engineer.

artist.

executive.

astronaut.

graduate.

scientist.

chef.

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musician.

engineer.

artist.

executive.

Popular categories of classes

Homeschooling in 2024?

Dive into a world of learning with Math, English, and Science courses designed to support and enrich your homeschooling journey.

Find classes for every age

"My kids instantly fell in love with Outschool because they were able to take some of their favorite classes from teachers all over the world and they also found friends in those teachers and students. Outschool has provided an enriching experience for our family during these confusing times."

10,000+ experienced teachers

Articles you may find helpful

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Get affordable online classes and tutoring for kids at Outschool

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Find the perfect academic resource for your kids. Try online classes and tutoring from Outschool's vetted 5-star teachers. No contracts or sales calls

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Are you ready to create, explore, and learn in Summer 2021?

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a weekly exploratory camp designed to give students the opportunity to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, business and marketing areas. The camp is open to students in grades 2-6 during the 2020-21 school year.

Tech Adventure Camp Program Information

Eligibility

Open to students in grades 2-6 during the 2020-21 school year. Students currently in grades 7-11 may participate in CTE Summer Academy. Space is limited, and registration is on a first-come basis until seats are filled.

All students are welcome:

FCPS students.

Students enrolled in private schools.

Students who are homeschooled.

Non-Fairfax County residents.

Program Information

Dates and Times

Week 1: July 12 - July 16, 2021

Week 2: July 19 - July 23, 2021

Week 3: July 26 - July 30, 2021

8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Early drop-off begins at 7:30 a.m.

After-care is available between 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Location

Robinson Secondary School

Tuition

Full: $275 per week

Free and reduced lunch: No tuition

Classes and Daily Schedule

Students have five classes every day. There is one, 55-minute class in STEAM, health and medical, culinary, trade and industrial, and business and marketing every day.

2021 Themes and Course Descriptions

Week 1: Young Entrepreneurs: Food Truck Edition!

Are you ready to become a Food Truck Master? Learn what it takes to start a food truck business. Design the truck, create healthy recipes, and determine the marketing plan. Campers will also cook recipes for their food truck!

Week 2: The Great Rescue Mission

Your mission: prepare for and complete a rescue expedition. Help people in emergencies and promote the efforts of others. Mission accomplished!

Week 3: CTE Olympics

Competition is building in the CTE pathways! Go behind the scenes in the athletic world to learn how athletes perform. Tackle sports marketing. Score at keeping athletes safe. Campers may do light physical activities to learn about the health of athletes.

Lunch

Students will have a 30-minute lunch break every day.

FCPS Food Services provides lunch for $3.50 or students may bring a lunch from home. FCPS students can use their school accounts or pay with cash. Non-FCPS students can pay with cash.

Starting mid-June (specific date TBD), view the lunch menu by school location. Vending machines are available.

Transportation

There is bus transportation from select FCPS high schools and middle schools outside of the Robinson pyramid. Transportation to and from these schools is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Transportation information will be communicated to families prior to the start of the program.

CTE Summer Enrichment After Care
New to Summer 2021
CTE Summer Enrichment will provide extra time and space for students to continue exploring, creating, and learning after Tech Adventure Camp ends for the day. Students will have options for individual exploration or group freeform play. Students may also bring books, games, or other activities from home. We encourage students to bring a snack, food is not provided during this program. Transportation is not provided for this program and is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Dates and Times

Tuition

$100 each week.

Tech Adventure Camp at Home

Explore Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses from home at your own pace! This FREE resource includes activity guides and supply lists needed to create several fun projects in STEAM, cooking, health, trades, business and marketing areas.

Students can access these guides by visiting the Enrichment Activities Google Site. Students must log in using their FCPS G Suite account (a student's ID number followed by @fcpsschools.net).

Registration

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Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a weekly exploratory camp designed to give students the opportunity to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, business and marketing areas. The camp is open to students in grades 2-6 during the 2020-21 school year. Open to students in grades 2-6 during the 2020-21 school year.