It’s hard to believe we are already in May, but before you know it school will be out for the summer and for many families it’s time to start thinking about summer vacation and activity plans. With a little help from the Internet, and a few basic supplies, you can help keep kids entertained and their minds active all summer long – not to mention help get them outside and active instead of parked in front of a video game console for the next 2-3 months!

I remember growing up one summer my parents bought me a subscription to a bi-weekly science kit. Every two weeks a little kit would arrive in the mail and would teach me the basics of magnetism, electricity, flowers, etc. They included the basics needed for the activity and were a great way to keep me occupied! You can do something similar for your kids without spending a fortune and using supplies commonly found around the home. Great resources for making these kits can be found at a variety of websites including the American Chemical Society (http://portal.acs.org; look under Volunteer in a Classroom), Science Bob (http://www.sciencebob.com/), and Science Buddies (http://www.sciencebuddies.org/). These sites are chocked full of ideas for you and your kids to explore some of the wonders of science this summer without spending a fortune.

Another great way to keep kids busy over the summer while keeping their minds active at the same time is through planting a garden. Gardens are a great way to teach kids about the effects of water, sun (photosynthesis), soil, and plant nutrition. Set aside a small part of your yard and encourage your kids to experiment growing different types of vegetables. Encourage them to think about what is going on by posing questions such as, “What happens when you give a plant only one-half the water you give another?” or “What happens if you plant one tomato plant in the sun and another one in the shade?” This is also an excellent opportunity to introduce them to organic gardening, a process by which they use natural methods for pest control and cultivation. An excellent resource to get you started, as well as give you ideas on how to challenge your kids to think and keep them active, can be found at http://www.kidsgardening.com/.

If you have kids that are a bit older, perhaps getting ready to enter high school next year, why not consider a lengthier project that they can use as a foundation for a lifelong hobby or career. Restoring or fixing up an old car can be a project that is not only fun, but can be very educational and profitable. What kid out there wouldn’t love to have a classic muscle car? Even if you are your son or daughter knows nothing about mechanics, this is a great time to start learning! Often old cars can be found for cheap (check out www.craigslist.org) and with effort and time they can be turned into true showpieces. It may take 2 or 3 summers to finish the project, but when it is all said and done you will have something that you and your kids will remember for the rest of their life.

This summer make it a family effort to get everyone – kids and adults alike – outside and active. Keep their minds active by challenging them in fun projects and ideas. Most importantly, do something together that you all will remember for years to come!

Tags: education, fun, science, summer