During summer break, the last thing your child wants to think about is school. Summer break is supposed to be about fun, right? Although this sentiment is understandable, a sizable break from learning makes it harder for kids to snap back into an educational mindset once summer is over. If you make learning fun, summer break is the ideal time to beef up your child's informal learning—an learning that takes place away from the classroom. Here are a few great ways you can optimize your child's informal learning this summer without missing out on any of the fun.

3 Ways to Keep Your Kids Learning During the Summer

1. Encourage Reading

Not every child enjoys reading, and even the ones that do, may not want to adhere to a schedule when there's so much fun in the sun to be had. Don’t let your children lose touch with their reading skills and abilities. Take trips to the library over the summer and help them choose books with high-interest themes. Books about dragons, animals that talk, sport legends, and space travel entertain as well as inform. What they read is not important as long as their minds stay engaged.

2. Play Education Games

One of the best ways to immerse your children in informal learning over summer break is with games. Children love games, and just about any game has some kind of educational component. Fine-tune math skills by having kids count red and white cars while you’re traveling as a family. Try to interest older children in board games—chess, for example—that require critical thinking. Or give kids a globe and have them locate all the countries of the world that begin with the letter M.

3. Take Educational Outings

Teach your child about culture, history, and science by going to museums, a planetarium, or a nature center. The more interactive the exhibits, the more they're likely to respond and learn.

Looking for a fun and exciting way to capture a child’s interest and spark their imagination this summer? Pink Palace Family of Museums in Memphis, TN, is your one-stop destination for fun and informal learning. One of their many attractions, including historic houses, dioramas, audiovisuals, and fossils, is sure to be the highlight of your child's summer. Visit their website to learn more, or call (901) 636-2362 with questions.