By Patrick McKenzie

Most kids love to learn but hate to study.  And if you want them to continue their education over the summer, you’re going to be hard-pressed to convince them it’s not homework.  That is, of course, unless you can find a way to make it fun. And what could be better in that respect than games?  Modern children are practically raised on video games and internet usage, so why not combine their love of electronics with your desire to help them retain knowledge?  To that effect, here are five fun ways to keep them learning this summer.

  1. Board games.  That’s right.  Dust off the family games from the closet to keep kids practicing spelling and vocabulary (Scrabble, Balderdash), math skills (Monopoly, card games), history (Axis and Allies), geography (Where in the World?), and mental skills like strategy and reasoning (chess, Othello).  Board games are not only a great educational tool, they also allow for some fun, quality family time.
  2. Cell phone games.  Although there are not many educational games for cell phones, classics like Scrabble, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit have enjoyed a modern resurgence due to their popularity on mobile devices.  If your child seems apathetic about board games, this may be a great way to get them interested.
  3. Apple devices.  Although Apple does offer a cell phone, they are really in a class all by themselves when it comes to the amount of educational games offered on iTunes (and they are available not only for the iPhone, but also for iPod and iPad).  There are games for every conceivable subject and age group (and at prices ranging from less than a dollar to under $10 for downloads), so peruse their vast selection to find the right ones for your children.
  4. Online games.  There are a wealth of websites dedicated to educational games for kids, but a couple of good ones are Apples 4 the Teacher and Funbrain, both of which allow you to search by subject (Funbrain also offers an age/grade level search option).  However, both of these sites are for preadolescent kids (Apples = preK-6, Funbrain = K-8).  For those in high school, try Super Smart Games.  They offer games for all age groups.
  5. Outings.  Technically, this may not qualify as a game, but you really can’t go wrong taking your kids on summertime field trips.  Take a tour at the local zoo or museum, go on nature hikes, or visit a nearby observatory to check out meteor showers in late July (Delta Aquarids, July 28-29, Capricornids, July 29-30) and early August (Perseids, August 12-13).

Keeping your kids learning over the long summer months can seem like a chore for everyone involved.  But parents can help children engage in educational games that are both fun and beneficial by becoming aware of the many products available and choosing the ones that are best suited to their child’s needs and abilities.  It can also be a great way to stay connected to your kids, assess their level of learning, and take a firm hand in guiding their education.

Patrick is an avid Bingo Player and he enjoys playing fun and educational games. You can visit his site Printable Bingo Cards.

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