School Zone
JUNE 14, 2017
A monthly newsletter covering area schools
How to keep kids entertained, active and engaged this summer
Summer vacation often starts with high expectations. Children
are excited about the prospect of fun days outdoors playing with
friends, while parents anxiously await relaxing months without the
responsibilities of school and extracurricular clubs. But once sum-
mer vacation arrives and the fi rst few days have passed, parents of-
ten fi nd that the litany of cheers and giggles transform into a chorus
of "I'm bored."
Many parents pore over ideas that will keep their children busy
throughout the summer. Many activities that come to mind tend to
be expensive, so if cutting costs is a priority, parents might need to
think outside the box to come up with entertaining ideas that won't
break the bank.
Camp
Summer camp is a popular way for kids to spend their summers,
but many camps are expensive.The American Camp Association
has found that overnight camps can cost anywhere from $325 to
$780 a week. Day camp fees may be $100 to $275 per week. Par-
ents who send their children to camp for an entire season might
pay anywhere from $3,000 to $9,000 for the seven- to nine-week
program.
Parents looking for an alternative to costly camps should consider
local programs that offer summer activities. Libraries, schools and
childcare centers may have programs that run the length of sum-
mer and are considerably less expensive than more formal camps.
A YMCA or even a swim club may also put together activities.
Parents whose children attend afterschool sporting classes, such as
karate or soccer, may fi nd that the organizations offer a camp or
summer program.
Day Trips
If a parent is off for the summer, then day trips may be a possibil-
ity. Schedule a few day trips to different locations that the kids are
excited to see. Newspapers routinely print "Go See It" or "Just Go"
listings that highlight local events. The family can gather around
the table and decide which outings would be interesting and then
mark them on the calendar. Some parents purchase season passes to
amusement parks and take the kids several times over the summer.
In either case, bring snacks and lunch from home when possible to
keep costs in check.
Kid Swap
Chances are many of your neighbors are also facing the same
diffi culties as they try to fi nd ways for kids to spend their summer
afternoons. Parents can get together and set up a schedule for en-
tertaining the kids. For example, one parent is responsible for the
whole lot one day, while the next day another parent takes a turn.
This gives parents the opportunity to take a break from parental re-
sponsibilities and enjoy some quiet time. And for the children, time
spent in a pool, watching movies, playing video games, or riding
bikes is often more enjoyable with friends in tow.
Fun Projects
Children often want to feel useful, and may enjoy the responsi-
bility of some easy tasks in and around the house -- so long as the
tasks are fun. Washing the car with a hose and a bucket of sudsy
water is a fun way to cool off during the hot summer days and get
a chore done. While parents should not expect a perfect job, they
can rest assured that the kids will have at least an hour of fun in the
sun and water.
Set aside a patch of the yard that children can turn into their own
personal gardens. Encourage digging in this area and provide seeds
or seedling plants as well as kid-sized gardening tools. Each day the
kids can check on the progress of their gardens.
Some home-improvement and craft stores sponsor free learning
activities for children. They can be held in the morning or afternoon
and will teach interesting skills that can be put to use again at home.
Summer vacations are soon to arrive, and parents can be armed
with a list of enjoyable -- yet inexpensive -- ways to keep kids busy.
For more ideas, see page C3
Keep up with Harrison
Elementary's construction
all summer long
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South Lane School District has installed timelapse cameras at the site of the new Harrison Elementary School on
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