How to Encourage Students to Learn During the Summer Months

We were all kids once. For most of us, the last thing we wanted to do when we were young during the summer was to keep on doing school work. That sort of stuff could really interfere with the other summer hobbies such as swimming, playing ball, hanging with friends, and sleeping in late. Summer is thought of as the time to relax and unwind after nine long months of schooling. 

However, if done correctly, your students or your own children will actually enjoy learning during the summer. They won’t think of it as a punishment but a chance to broaden their horizons. The key is to approach it the right way and offer them encouragement in the process. If you can pull it off well, this could be a permanent summer fixture year after year. It sure will beat staying up late and binging Netflix every night, and sleeping until noon the next day. 

Set Time Limits If Needed
Rather than overwhelm your children and send them spiraling into a deep depression by telling them they will be learning the whole summer, think about setting limits on how much time is being spent on education. For instance, you could designate just two hours a day for your kid to be spent on learning. Or consider two days a week, two weeks a month, or whatever works out well for all parties involved. If you let them say how much time is spent on education during the summer, they will at least feel as if they are slightly still in charge of their summer journey. 

Allow Them to Choose What They Will Learn
When figuring out what your children can learn during the summer, there are options you can pursue. There is probably some sort of summer courses being offered at a nearby elementary or high school. Also, junior colleges usually have workshops for kids as well. But you should consider thinking outside the box!

Do you have a kid that is interested in art? Perhaps talk to the local art gallery owner and see if they can volunteer at the gallery in exchange for an education in art history. Does your student want to learn about auto mechanics? Ask the local auto shop if they can help out there and understand things in the process. It doesn’t hurt to ask!

Try to Get Friends Involved
When kids can get their friends participating in projects, it always seems much more fun than if they tackled it alone. Your children won’t mind learning during the summer nearly as much if you can get their friends involved. This may mean talking to their parents on the down-low or just flat out asking their friends if they would like to participate. 

Bribing Is Such a Dirty Word
We all have a price when it comes down to inspiring us to do things. After all, this is what gets you to work each day. You trade your services for something of equal value (or close to it). If your children are not excited about actively learning during the summer months, a little bribery doesn’t hurt. Plan a fun family vacation with them in return. Treat them to a day at the amusement park. Perhaps take them camping for a weekend. After all, these are things that you might have done anyway, so offering them up as rewards really are not setting you back anything. 

Bring in the Professionals
Before educating your child during the summer months, discuss what they should be learning with their classroom teachers. Perhaps there is a subject they struggled with this past year or get them going early on something they will be learning this upcoming school year. 

Suppose you really do not know what your children should be learning pertaining to school instruction or lack the skills needed to further their education yourself. In that case, iAchieve offers professional tutoring on all subjects and at any grade level. Plus, we can assist in helping your high school children plan for the ACT or SAT. Furthermore, if music is more your child’s passion, we also provide music lessons for virtually any instrument. 

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