FAMILY LIFE LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Have fun! The most important aspect of learning should be having fun. When children are happy and relaxed, they are more likely to excel in activities and build successful relationships. For academic support and enrichment opportunities all summer long, visit www. oaklearners.ca - our teachers have put together fantastic summer camps, online skill booster classes, and online enrichment programming.
KELLY FARRELL
Director at Oak Learners; a private alternative school in Mimico located at 394 Royal York Rd. / 416-820-5233 www.oaklearners.ca
VIDEO TIPS FROM LIZ
Curiosity and learning are as natural for children as avoiding bedtime! Have you ever stopped to count how many questions your child asks in a day? What if you wrote down every question and then attempted to answer each one? Well, I highly recommend this exercise at least once this summer - it can be an amazing jumping-off point for a summer of inquiry! Summer Break should be fun and a time for children to explore their natural curiosities while taking a much-needed break from the stress and structure of formal learning. Isn’t it wonderful when a nature walk turns into a scientific scavenger hunt, thus building observational, map-reading, and navigation skills? 1. Make Learning Fun! Activities such as baking, shopping, or creating a lemonade stand are fantastic ways to ‘hide’ math in your summer fun. When numbers and problem-solving become a daily habit, suddenly “math class” doesn’t seem as confusing. 2. Summer Reading Clubs are great ways to encourage children to read for pleasure and explore new books over the summer months. Local libraries and some online sites run great incentives for children to keep reading all summer long! 3. Board Games are a fantastic, screen-free, way to bring the family together on a rainy day or quiet summer evening. The benefits of card games and board games are plentiful: children learn to take turns, read instructions or game cards, counting and mental math skills, strategy, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, and especially improved memory. 4. Nature Walks can quickly become Science Investigations or Scavenger Hunts for children of all ages. Encourage children to be mindful of their surroundings, listening to the changing sights and sounds throughout each stage of the summer season.
Watch at www.etobicokelakeshorepress.com “Slow and steady wins the race.” A very common saying that can be applied to so many areas of our life! Like with gardening, each day we water our plants for a short while and give them some TLC in hopes that the foundation to their growth is supported well. It is the same with the way we take care of ourselves. As you take small, tiny actions each day by moving, even if only briefly, you will begin to notice the benefits of a fuller, healthier life. A common misconception to being active is that we “should” be working out at an intense level each day, but sometimes, this method is unsustainable. Set realistic goals for yourself and get moving, slow and steady! Just like the plants show growth over time, your results will be achieved over time, even if in a slow and steady pace. Liz Martino-Durbano, M.Ed. Teacher, Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Instructor & Wellness Guide
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