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Workbooks are abundantly available today by grade level, interest or developmental area. To easily structure some daily enhancement time, choose an age-appropriate workbook with interesting illustrations and activities. Make it easy to engage your child by setting a timer or doing a limited number of pages.
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Even before your child sets foot back in the classroom, you can prepare him or her for what is to come. Check out these ideas for enhancing your child’s education outside of the classroom walls and beyond the proverbial lemonade stand — and help him or her excel when school begins.
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1. Make Reading Time Fun
Books help children understand the world around them. Author Dorothy Rich suggests parents encourage lifelong reading with fun activities. For example, ask your children to act out a story they just read. Rich also recommends posting a world map near your favorite reading spot to help kids locate a story’s setting.
Plus, try setting a daily reading time — perhaps at bedtime or immediately after dinner. Keep reference books, dictionaries and almanacs close by to answer any questions. Ask your children to talk about the story’s beginning, middle and end. Help children develop their inner critic by asking what they liked and disliked. To make reading a habit, schedule library trips on the same day each week.
2. Think Outside of the Museum
Field trips give your children the opportunity to touch, hold, see, taste and live what they are learning from books. Beyond the typical children’s museum, try visiting a living-history museum or find a historical reenactment taking place in your area. You could take a trip to an animal farm, a planetarium, a sporting event or a factory that gives tours.
3. Grow With Music
Two recent studies found that learning to play a musical instrument helps the brain work more efficiently in processing language. Beyond scheduling music lessons, which often are available through local art and recreation centers, try to fit songs and music into your daily routine. Sing whenever the mood hits you. Help your children feel the rhythm by dancing, clapping and swaying with songs.
4. Play to Your Child’s Interests
According to author Joe Renzulli, it is important to look at each of your children individually. "First, identify your child’s interests, and then look for activities that offer high engagement," says Renzulli. "There are thousands of Web sites out there that promote a hands-on environment. For example, a child interested in ancient history can virtually dissect a mummy or even build a pyramid."
5. Add Workbooks and a Timer
Workbooks are abundantly available today by grade level, interest or developmental area. To easily structure some daily enhancement time, choose an age-appropriate workbook with interesting illustrations and activities. Make it easy to engage your child by setting a timer or doing a limited number of pages. As a reward, offer to play a round of your child’s favorite board game upon completion. And you don’t even need to tell your child that he or she is developing skills by doing that, too!
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