Summer is a time for kids to relax and have fun.

“They should be having fun,” said Mary Ann Shay, principal of Delhi Public School. Summer is about “giving kids time to be kids.”

However, there are simple ways for children to stay sharp in anticipation for the upcoming school year.

Shay suggests getting children involved in the planning and organization of activities in the summer. This provides them with some form of structure while still having fun. They could plan a play date with a friend, or help prepare a meal.

Having children involved with chores around the house will also keep a sense of responsibility in their lives without the pressure of assignments and tests.

Math activities are available online for some students at Delhi Public School to practice during the summer vacation and every student has been provided with a library card for the Norfolk County Public Library to encourage leisure reading.

During the summer, “you get time to read the things you want to read, not the things you have to,” said Delhi District Secondary School principal Alison High.

High also suggests using the time to discover new things within the community and reconnecting with family and friends.

She said learning “doesn’t have to be a formal thing. There is a lot of learning that can take place outside of the school, sometimes even more (than inside a classroom).”

Students can also use summer as an opportunity to be physically active, said High.

Most schools now have websites or Facebook pages that students can use to stay connected to faculty throughout the summer.

Sarah Doktor

519-426-3528 ext. 112

sarah.doktor@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/sarahreformer