How to Make Kids’ Summer Break Chilling with Constructive Games

How do you keep your kids busy when they have long summer holidays? Can you keep amused a large group of kids? What about noisy activities for boisterous, bored kids? Card games, party games, quiet activities, indoor games, thinking games, energetic activities and outdoor activities - we have them all!

We are discussing a few games which will keep your kids engaged and smiling throughout the summer and despite of getting bored, your kids will be learning something with fun.

Don't Get Caught in the Web

Select an area that has too many obstacles, may be tables, chairs, cupboards, sofas, doors and other objects. Set up the gaming area by tying a string throughout the area. Tie the string in the way so that there are only a few ways to get through the string web. For this the string can be attached with doors, under tables, across chairs, windows but nothing that would be knocked over like metal vases, lamp shades, and can cause injury to the participants or valuable equipment which might make loss if broken. Now call the players to come into the area and they must get through from one side to another without touching the string web. This way kids will be amused and will do physical and brain work to get through the web without touching the strings.

Fast Draw

This game requires the use of index cards, a large drawing area or dry erase board, a stopwatch and erasable markers. Start by writing clues on the index cards. Then divide the kids into two teams. Delegate a player on the first team as the player who will draw and have him or her pick a card. The word on the card tells what the child has to draw, for example, a cat, a bat, a hut, a rat or anything what kids and draw easily. Set a time limit, such as two or three minutes, and start the stopwatch. The child draws while his/her teammates try to guess what he or she is drawing. If the team guesses what is being drawn correctly, the team is awarded a point. Continue until each player has had a chance to draw. And set some gift for the winning team. This way kids will enjoy the game.

Guessing Game

To play the guessing game, you will need flash cards, glue, magazines, newspaper, old books and a box. Go through the magazines, newspapers, old books and cut out simple objects like clouds, dogs, cats or anything else that you find. With the help of glue paste the pictures to the Flash cards. Place the cards in the box and shake the box to mix them all. Ask a kid to come and pick out a card from the box. Then say him to explain what the object is without actually naming the object. The other players have one minute time to figure out what object the kid is talking about. Continue until you have used all of the selected pictures. Then make points according to the right guesses made by the kids, the kid who has made most right guesses is the winner. In other way this game could be played with the pictures of some great scientists, inventors, political figures, actors, freedom fighters etc., and other kids have to guess the name of the figure. While the kid who is acting about the figure is not allowed to speak the name of the person in the card picked by him or her.

Target Toss

This is a real fun game for kids. You can begin by looking around the house and selecting objects to use as targets, for example, empty cereal boxes, empty plastic bottles, empty coke cans, and toilet paper tubes. Give each player items to hit the targets with, such as soft balls or rolled-up socks. Use chairs or tables to set up the objects. Use a belt or mark a line with chalk to create a throwing line on the floor at least 10 feet away from the target. Now ask kids to come one by one and hit the target. Assign a point value for hitting each object and keep score throughout the game. The first child who hits the maximum objects with maximum points is the winner.

Puzzle Pieces

For this game, you will need the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Give each child approximately the same number of pieces. You may also divide the group into teams. Challenge the children to put the puzzle together. This task will require communication and collaboration. After the activity, ask the group to discuss how they got started, what problems they faced and how they overcame the problems. Ask them to give examples of situations where better communication or cooperation could have given better results. This game enhances team spirit and skills in the kids.

Animal Charades

This is a very entertaining and fun game for kids that can keep them active while they are kept indoors in hot summer days. In order to play this game, one child is selected to pretend that he is an animal. For instance, he can hop around like a kangaroo or slither around on the floor like a snake, or climb on something like a monkey. You should encourage the kids to be creative while playing this game. If a child correctly guesses the animal, he is able to take the next turn at mimicking an animal. This game surely brings loads of laughter in the kids.

Musical Chairs

For playing this game first of all place some chairs in the middle of your living room. You need to place a number of chairs that is one less than the number of kids participating in the game. Keep a music system on a table a little far from the kids and the chairs placed. Then play the kids' favorite music, and ask them to walk around the chairs in a circle. Tell them prior to start of the game that when music will be stopped they need to sit on the chair quickly, and only one child on one chair. The child who does not have a chair is out of the game. Take one chair away and start the music again. Repeat this process until one child and one chair are left. That child is the winner of the game. Encourage the kids to dance and have fun as they walk around the chairs. This way kids will find this game much more entertaining and fun filled.

Board Games

There are dozens of different types of board games for kids in different ages which can entertain kids for hours when it's time to play inside and hot outside. Some board games need strategy and skill, whereas others rely on the roll of the dice to decide how the game goes. Checkers, a classic board game where kids move small, colored pieces around a checkered board in order to collect their opponents pieces, is one example of an easy-to-learn board game. Other examples are, chess, ludo or the game of snake and ladder. This keeps kids engaged, entertain and safe in summer time.

Safety Tips

Establishing safety rules before you play active indoor games reduces the chances of injuries or broken items in your home. Practice walking instead of running and remind the kids to watch the pace if they start moving too fast. Create a safe zone for the game play without any breakable items in the area. Move breakable items or heavy items which can cause injury out of the way before the game if necessary.

READING GAMES

Making reading pleasurable is a fundamental way to encourage learning, promoting literacy and inspire your child to read. Cool reading games for kids help make reading a fun, interactive experience and can motivate reluctant readers to get tangled with books. Reading games work by creating an atmosphere of fun and enthusiasm, giving opportunities for child-directed instruction, and facilitating the requirements of English language learners and struggling readers learning beside their peers. Using reading games, in addition to having regular reading times, reinforces learning. And the long summer holidays are best time to keep kids engaged, entertained, and learn something interesting and new. Following are few Reading Games which can help you keep your kids engaged and have fun while learning in the summer holidays.

Hangman

This classic word-game is easy to play, endlessly variable and appeals to all ages. Your child can play it online at educational sites. Or it also can be played with pen and paper, though, making it an excellent game to play while traveling or in a waiting room. Play with one or several people, with one person picking a word and the others trying to fill in the correct letters. The one who first fills the correct word is the winner. This way kids will learn language as well as they will improve their vocabulary.

Word Search

An all time favorite of both kids and adults, word search puzzles are great reading and learning tool for the reason that they need very close reading and train kids' eyes to seek out word patterns. With the game of word search kids also develop attention and promote visual recall. Word searches or word puzzles are also readily available in books, magazines, newspapers etc., for on-the-go.

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles are best game for the kids because this game can boost their brain. Practically anyone can strengthen their mind power just by doing crossword puzzles every day. One can only strengthen his or her brain power by exercising it. The more of these crossword puzzles that a child complete the much more his or her intelligence will strengthen with time. The child’s vocabulary, concentration, and memory can all benefit by simply working on some crossword puzzles on a daily basis. Researchers have proved that the task of solving puzzles can help to better the kid’s brain. The kids can develop their vocabulary by doing crossword puzzles by understanding and bringing in practice far more words. This assists him or her to know a lot more words and to understand them when they have to use them. This is a marvelous activity to have, to  improve one’s vocabulary and conversation skills.

Sudoku

Kids sudoku puzzles are a great brain building activity for children of all ages. Not only does sudoku motivate the use of logic and problem solving skills, it also develops brain power and introduces basic math skills to children of a very young age. The focus needed by children to solve mental puzzles such as sudoku contributes to the development of their concentration, patience and attention span. Kids also gain great satisfaction by finishing a puzzle on their own, which can lead to better confidence in their mathematical and educational life (which, obviously, means a convenient and more enjoyable time while learning).

To make the summer holidays of kid’s amusing, informative and full of fun allschoolstuff.com has introduced an entirely new range of products including books which will keep kids engaged and enjoy their summer holidays with tons of fun.

How to Plan Summer Activities for Kids

    If you are trying to find something to do on a rainy holiday or for entire summer vacation, you need to be imaginative and creative to keep your kids engaged and entertained. Because kids mostly feel bored sitting idle at home or they will start doing mischievous things which will irritate you. Following tips will help you plan fun and entertaining activities for your kids so that you can keep them out of boredom and give them something to enjoy their long summer break. 

• Ask for your kids' interests: If your kid’s love to draw, buy art supplies and set up a work station in the drawing room or in their living room. If they enjoy reading, buy books which are informative and useful for their future academics. 
• Brainstorm ideas: You might have seen your kids enjoying a few activities earlier, think about them. Drawing and coloring, art projects, sketching, singing, dancing, playing and creating different shapes and models with colorful clay etc. So now it’s better that you design activities for them based on these hobbies which they were doing earlier. 
• Give Ideas: Give your kids ideas about exciting activities like paper craft, wood craft, coloring, sketching, collage making, tell them about the fun activities through the DIY kits. 
• Remember age-appropriateness: If a task is very much difficult for a younger child, he/she will get discouraged and won’t participate in that activity. Similarly if you plan an activity that is easy, the older children will be bored and will leave it in mid. If you have a group of children of different ages, try to modify different activities for different age groups. For instance, you can give them to make a collage on the theme of nature or my school. Younger children can draw images and older children can color them and also can cut and paste pictures if they need them on the collage. This way it will be all fun doing the activity for both age groups. 
• Plan a game day: Offer them different types of board games to play, or ask them to play Hide-and-Seek. Let every kid in the group choose a game so that each one has a turn to do and enjoy something they want. 
• Let the kids do the planning: Give every child in the group a chance to express his or her interests through games and activities. This way they will feel valued and will enjoy playing in the group. 
• Create a schedule: Stay organized by creating a detailed schedule allotting time for each activity, cleanup, snacks, and quiet time. Post the schedule in a place where everyone can view it. So that everyone can get himself/herself prepared in advance for performing or taking part in that activity. 
• Gather supplies: Create a list of all the supplies you will need for your activities and go to the store if necessary or opt for a convenient option by buying them from an online store. Keep in mind how many children are in your group and obtain enough supplies for everyone. 
• Arranging Competition and Giving Prizes: To make children delight you can arrange for a drawing competition in a group of kids, and can give small prizes like set of color pencils, set of crayons, a drawing book, a football, a basketball or something like that which will make kids happy.

Benefits of Creative Activities for Kids

Doing creative activities with children is a healthy way to help them grow and learn. A child is engaged on a creative level every time he draws, paints, make sketches, builds with blocks, plays games, reads and engages in a myriad of other creative activities. 

• Imagination: A child's imagination is engaged by creative activities and it also inspires his thoughts and perceptions. For example, reading helps a child to experience a world outside of his own, and further he can express that world in his drawings and paintings. This way his thinking, reading and comprehension skills will improve. 
• Problem-Solving: Creative activities give ample opportunities to kids to solve problems, challenging a child's thinking, expanding his perspective and rewarding his initiatives. 
• Skill Development: Creative activities can help children build both fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Games such as volley ball, basketball, football etc., help children develop their gross motor skills, while painting and drawing strengthen their fine motor skills. 
• Bonding Time: When parents and older siblings work with children on creative projects and activities, they strengthen their relationship and bonding by spending quality and invested time together. A game of riddles or game of puzzles offers opportunities to talk, laugh and enjoy each other's company. 
• Teamwork: Creative group activities teach children how to work together toward a common goal, building both their individual self-confidence as well as their ability to contribute as a member of a team. For example, the game of cricket or football infuses team spirit in the kids and also builds self confidence in them.
Education Blog Directory

How to Keep Children Learning During Summer Vacation?

Just because school is closed for few days doesn’t mean your kids should stop learning. Parents often regard summer vacation with a mixture of excitement and dread. Most parents are ready for a break from the hectic schedules of school, sports and homework, but many also wonder how to keep their children engaged, active and learning during the months away from school. Summer camps, sports and enrichment activities allow children to take a break from the highly structured atmosphere of a regular school day and offer new opportunities to learn and socialize with peers.  In the case of tiny tots who are yet to begin with their schooling, summer vacation can be a great way to plan and prepare for the school years ahead. The simplest of activities can be turned into great learning experiences if you put in a little effort. Let’s see what you all can do to keep your kids learning while fun in their summer vacation.

• Ask your child’s school if they are offering summer programs for kids. Some schools open these programs to pre-K children that are enrolled in the school for the next year. Summer programs are often a mixture of sports and academics, which in the case of pre-K children may be learning to sing the alphabet song or counting to ten. If your kid’s school is offering such programs then sending kids to school during summer break is a good idea to keep them engaged in studies.

• Make a schedule for the whole day. By planning out the day ahead of time, you will be less likely to be caught unprepared and scrambling for something for your kids to do. Share your schedule with your kids so he or she will be excited about the day's activities. Consequently, your child will be less likely to wander off from the schedule or feel bored sitting idle for the whole day.

• Keep the schedule for your kid’s as normal as possible, ensuring to integrate the standard meal, snack and nap times. Snacks and meals should mean healthy food items; try to avoid foods that will excessively energize your child such as sugary foods and beverages. Nap time will not only allow you and your child a much required break, but it will also keep your kid's day on a positive track by heading off grumpiness or boredom that can be caused by being tired.

• Set up open-ended activities for your preschooler. Activities that are open-ended are those that allow your child to use his imagination to dictate his game play. These are also the types of activities that will keep your child's focus for the long time because they are not bound by rules that may limit the length of play time. For instance, you can give your kid pillows, blankets, empty cartons and light furniture to use and create a play house. This play house can then become whatever your child desires: a spaceship, a race car or a fort. This leaves game play open to continue for as long as your child's imagination allows.
• Let your kid help you in the routine household work. If your day is filled mainly with household chores, give your child a few easy tasks to do such as sorting laundry or helping you put away dishes. Or you can take your kid with you when you are watering your flower pots or plants in the garden and you can tell him/her the benefits of plants while doing so.
• You can also enroll your toddlers in summer programs at local museums. In large cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai or Kolkata, you will have access to children’s museums, which are already in themselves a great way to learn and have fun at the same time.

• Organize your own learning experience. Visit farms, go camping or take the kids for hiking. While pre-K kids may not be able to enjoy the outing as much as an older kid would, it can still be a great learning experience if you prepare the trip in advance. For example, you can talk about, wild animals, farm & pet animals let the kids practice writing their names or discuss what they eat or how they live.
• Always be prepared with a back-up plan. You never know when a rainy day or a failed activity will disturb your plans, so it is best to keep around alternatives such as coloring books, crayons, color pencils, pastel colors, paints or other activities like the activity kits that can be accessed speedily and keep your kids occupied while you adjust your schedule again.
• Give them interesting books, like educational stories, activity books which can keep them engaged by reading and doing, encyclopedias which can give them knowledge beyond their text books.

If you have any other suggestion to keep the children busy in their summer vacation please do share with us. Write your comments in the comment box below.

SENDING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL — TIPS FOR PARENTS

A new school year means a new class, new and some old friends, new teachers, new goals, and maybe even a new school! For successfully sending your child to school without any sort of hassle, we have put together a list of eight helpful school tips that we hope will make the move into a new school year a little easier for you and your child.

Organize all the paperwork: In the world of education, there are lots of meetings, paperwork, and documentation to keep track of. Try to keep a family calendar of school events, educational meetings, conferences, etc. Setting up a binder or folder to keep your child's education documentation, meeting notices etc in sequential order can also help you stay organized.

Start a communication log: Keeping track of all phone calls, e-mails, notes sent by the school, meetings, and conferences is significant. Create a "communication log" for yourself in a notebook that is easy to refer later on, whenever required. Be sure to note the dates, times, and nature of the communications you have with school, teachers etc.

Buy the school supplies earlier: You might have got  books and student’s supplies list from the school. In order to remain ready for the back to school without hassle buy all the school supplies like books, bagpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, notebooks, art and craft materials, shoes, school uniform etc. at least two weeks prior opening of school.

Relieve back-to-school jitters: Just talking about the upcoming year and changes can help reduce some of that back-to-school anxiety! Talk to your child about exciting new classes, activities, and events that they can participate in during the new school year. If your child is going to attend a new school, try to schedule a visit before the first day. Talk to older students, it is sometimes helpful to know about the services and accommodations of the school, which can help you explain to your child what to expect when school begins.

Keep everyone informed: It's important that  you and the school communicate early and often! If there is anything that you feel is important to share with the teachers and principal of your child before school starts, or during the year, don't hesitate to contact them! The more proactive and honest you are, the better the school staff will be able to meet your child's needs.

Establish before and after school routines: Talk about and plan the changes in you and your child's daily routine that will happen once school starts. You can even begin practicing your new schedule, focusing on morning and evening routines, and begin carrying out them well in advance of the first day of school.

Stay up-to-date: Being knowledgeable about your child and the school information for the coming session can help you become a better advocate for your child. Try to keep up-to-date on new education legislation, news, and events. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to navigate the world of education and successfully advocate for your child!

Attend school events: Take advantage of Open House, Back-to-School Night, and parent-teacher meetings to help you and your child get a feel for the school and meet the teachers, other staff, students, and families. Share the positives about working with your child, and let the teacher know about changes, events, or concerns that should be considered for your child in particular.

BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST

First Steps

• First of all enroll your child (if he/she is not already registered from the previous year).
• If you want to know anything regarding the school or any information in your child’s perspective, make a list of questions & give a call to school management & inquire accordingly.
• Get the School Schedule in place which comprises of school timings and on which day classes start and what time your child should arrive at the school.
• Carefully fill out emergency contact sheets and any other required forms.

Check Medical Requirements

• Before sending your ward to school, make sure your child has all required immunizations.
• Schedule a physical exam for your child if necessitated to participate in school activities.
• Get your child’s vision checked before school begins if he/she is due for an exam.
• Notify the principal’s office, the school nurse, and your child’s teachers about any health problems or medications of your child.

Stock Up on School Supplies

• Check the school website or call for a list of required school supplies.
• Find out whether students will store supplies at school or bring them home every day.
• Buy a nice and durable backpack or bag to carry daily items.
• Buy a nice lunch box and water bottle to carry lunch and water.
• Buy required books, notebooks, stationery, art & craft material well in advance.
• Review the school dress code.
• Buy school uniforms and shoes, if necessary.

Learn About the School

• Find out whether the class teacher prefers to communicate by phone, e­mail, or written note.
• Know what your child is expected to learn in his/her grade level.
• Read carefully the information on the school’s website.
• Note down the phone numbers for checking school closures or reporting absences of your kids.
• Find out the modus operandi for taking your child out of school early if any case arises.
• Read the school handbook and the information and instructions written in it and make sure your child understands the rules.
• Review the school’s reputation and facilities it will be providing to your kids.

Plan to be involved

• Mark school events on the family calendar so that you don’t forget them and could prepare your kids accordingly.
• Attend the back-to-school program so that you can gather the latest information or any updates from the school and teachers.
• Schedule and attend parent–teacher meetings for sure, because this will help you in knowing teacher’s views about your kids & to present your views, expectations from  them.

Plan Healthy Meals

• Stock up your kitchen with nutritious food for breakfast, lunch and after-­school snacks.
• Find out whether snacks and drinks are available at school or can be brought from home.
• Ask the school’s canteen what they offer for kids to eat.
• Alert the school staff and the class teacher if your child has a severe food allergy.

Arrange Transportation

• Try going to school with your child as he/she might feel much more comfortable in your company.
• Choose the means of transportation carefully:
• Bus: Make sure he/she knows where and when to be picked up before and after school.
• Bicycle: Review road safety and make sure he/she has a helmet.
• On Foot: Walk the route together and review pedestrian safety guidelines.
• Arrange a carpool if necessary and introduce your child to the other parents and children.
• Take down the contact information of parents who can pick up your child in an emergency.

Make After­ School Plans

• Arrange for the after­school activities and the child care.
• Choose extracurricular activities cautiously to avoid over-scheduling.
• Make sure your child knows where to go after school each day for example to a sports complex, for tuition, music or dance classes.

Help Your Child Prepare For School

• Make arrangements so that your child can play with others in his age group before classes begin so that he or she can learn how to play and study among the kids.
• Talk to your child about his/her feelings about starting school and talk over any other concerns.
• Talk with your child about his/her daily school schedule.
• Talk about peer pressure with your child.
• Ensure that your child memorizes your home address and home and work phone numbers.
• Tour the school with your child so he/she can find his/her classrooms, the restrooms, and the cafeteria.
• Arrange a time for you and your child to meet his new teachers and introduce them with each other.

Lay the Ground Rules

• Fix a firm bedtime before the school begins.
• Assign a proper place where and when your child will do his/her homework.
• Figure out a plan for balancing homework and play time of your child.
• Set rules for the time spent on TV, video games, and computer use for non-­school projects.