WITS END - JO LEE Magazine

EDITOR AT LARGE
By
Carla Dragnea
Bucharest - Romania
ACTIVITIES
DEVELOPING
ACADEMIC
SKILLS
Children dream year long about ‘break time’ from school. But this doesn’t
have to mean a break from learning! The challenge can sometimes be in
finding the activities that will help children continue to develop their
academic skills while having fun.
Summer is a great time for writing friends and family about
one’s favorite book, movie or game.
Read and explore through the library. Many libraries
sponsor summer reading programs. Sign up.
We all benefit from having structure. It teaches
important life skills and responsibility. Make a list. Of
course, there’re always household chores. Visit a
museum together and learn about art and culture. Many
museums have free admission one day a week. Do an art
project with an important theme: i.e. a poster of summer
safety tips.
Get creative in the kitchen. Plan a meal together. Write
the grocery list, travel to the food market and return home
and follow the recipe.
Plant a garden or plant flowers in pots. It’s fun to nurture
plants and amazing to watch them grow.
Get on your bikes. Cycle and walk through parks and
historic areas of your community that you haven’t seen
before.
Head to the craft store.
And then, you can plan a party.
Get moving!
102 JO LEE SUMMER 2007