Finding the Fun in June

June has arrived! The typical family is enjoying a summer break. Taking a break from school doesn’t necessarily mean taking a break from learning. Teachable moments are all around you. You can also create teachable moments. Consider the following ideas for adding educational fun to your summer. 

This month’s holiday is Father’s Day. It lands on June 20, so you have time to plan something special with the kids. Maybe they will pretend to be detectives, studying Dad and taking secret notes about Dad’s likes and dislikes. Then they can write up a report (language arts!) that you can use to discuss gift and activity ideas for the big day. Art can be used to create a special one-of-a-kind card. There are so many places online where you can find ideas for Father’s Day projects! However, if there is no Dad available for the kids or for you, you don’t have to bury your head under a pillow and wait for the day to end. You can still treat the children to a Father’s Day. You might have a cookout, go fishing or camping, or watch a movie that features a loving father. You might look at photo albums and share some happy memories about a father or a father-figure. The day can be about the qualities it takes to be a good, God-honoring father. When there is no earthly father to celebrate, there is still the heavenly Father.  


With your schedule freed up from daily school lessons, you can explore the children’s interests. When my teens were younger, I would devote each week of summer to a different subject. For instance, they wanted to cook, so I got a children’s cookbook and devoted a week to teaching them how to follow simple recipes. They were interested in dinosaurs, so one week we read about dinosaurs, put a dinosaur skeleton puzzle together, played a dinosaur game, fashioned dinosaurs out of clay, and watched dinosaur videos. We also played the educational games I’d stocked up on but never found time for during the school year. We had a good time, and the kids didn’t complain of being bored.  


Summer is a fine time to be outdoors. Many kids like to take hikes and talk about nature. If your kids have questions that you can’t answer, a trip to the library can help!  


Don’t let time slip away. Before you know it, summer will be gone. You’ll be in a headlong rush through autumn toward Christmas! Use your time wisely. Don’t put fun off till later. Later rarely comes. Make plans to enjoy some summer fun while keeping your family on the learning track. You won’t regret it!