School is officially out for the summer! While this is a time to rejoice for kids and teachers, for parents, it can be a bit of a problem. Sure, there may be a family vacation or two on the calendar, but what about the rest of the summer?
Sitting inside and playing video games or watching TV is fine for a few hours on a rainy day, but too much screen time can also contribute to the loss of summer learning.
Here are a few ideas to keep your kids active, having fun, and learning this summer.
Set Summer Reading Goals
Reading gaps can widen over the summer, so it’s important that parents encourage their kids to keep reading over summer vacation. The Dripping Springs Library is a wonderful place to get kids involved in reading this summer, and it offers a variety of programs aimed at all ages. By signing up for the library’s summer reading program, children and teens can earn points for every book they read and redeem them for prizes like Amazon and Chick-fil-A gift cards or tickets to the Austin Zoo.
The library also has a summer calendar full of all sorts of activities and classes. On select days Monday through Friday, kids can stop by for board game sessions, movie screenings, art classes – even the occasional Mario Kart tournament!
Volunteer
Not only does volunteering give back to the community, but it’s been shown to boost brain function.
If your child is an animal lover and is at least 12 years old, the PAWS Shelter of Dripping Springs is a wonderful place to spend a day or two each week during the summer. After completing a volunteer orientation, volunteers will help clean kennels, feed the animals, and take them for walks or play sessions.
The Central Texas Food Bank is another great place that’s always in need of volunteers. Children must be at least eight years old to volunteer and will have the opportunity to help pack food boxes to be given out to the community.
Hit the Road
You don’t have to look far to find adventure and awesome ways to have fun and keep kids learning during the summer. Central Texas has a lot of cool destinations that make for a great Friday field trip. Here are a few local places that are sure to keep kids learning, exploring, and using their imaginations.
- The Science Mill
- Thinkery Austin
- The Bullock Museum
- The Texas Military Museum
- Dinosaur Park
- The Austin Zoo
- Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center
- Sweet Eats Fruit Farm
And on those days when the weather isn’t so nice, you can even take a virtual field trip!
Day Camps
You can’t go wrong with a summertime classic, and camp is about as classic as it gets when it comes to summer. Not only do camps provide adult supervision for children with working parents, but they provide an opportunity for kids to stay physically and mentally active and make new friends.
Dripping Springs offers a range of both single-week and full-summer day camps for kids ages 6 through 14.
Youth camp programs include:
- Coyote Nature Camp
- Tween Scene
- Skateboarding Camp
- Ranch Park Recreation Days
- Cooking Camp
To learn more about Dripping Springs and find a home here, reach out to the Caliterra team today.
