Getting ready for summer vacations


Welcome to the Tuesday Toots!

It’s summertime. Kids get a break from school. And before they start with their chants of “I’m bored”, be ready with a list of activities you can ask them to try out.

These activities are creative, engaging, some are challenging, and most importantly they can be modified and altered to suit your requirements.

Whether playing by themselves or with the family and friends, these activities quietly build their cognitive, kinetic and social skills.

Here goes.

"Nothing lasts forever, except the day before you start your vacation." - Gayland Anderson

Summer Activities for Children

1. Create a Summer Journal

Kids can write a few lines or draw or doodle about their day.

2. Build a Mini Garden

Grow herbs or small plants in pots or bottles. Learn about hydroponics or making bonsai.

3. Make a Family Recipe Book

Collate your favourite recipes from home. Ask grandmothers and other relatives to contribute. Create a family recipe book. Stick pictures of the dish or illustrate with fun drawings.

4. DIY Crafts from Recyclables

Make utility items for yourself like book ends, bookmarks or file covers or worksheet holders using old cereal boxes. Get creative and look for other items you can use.

5. Story Time Theatre

Pick a favourite book. Get your siblings or cousins or friends for a fun afternoon and act out the scenes with toys or home-made props.

6. Scavenger Hunt at Home or Park

Organise a scavenger hunt with a list of things to find. Make a list of hints to add to the fun.

7. Lego or Block Challenges

Decide on daily theme and create something amazing. You can also throw a challenge to your friends.

8. Start a Summer Blog or Comic Strip

Unleash your creative. Share experiences, thoughts or stories through writing or drawing. Something like Calvin or Dennis the Menace.

9. Build a Bird Feeder

Do your bit for the birds in the hot sun outside. Build a simple bird feeder. Paint in bright colours to attract the birds. Place it along with a small water tray.

10. Learn a New Skill

Coding basics, languages, chess, musical instrument like guitar or flute, calligraphy, origami. Anything that you find interesting.

11. Simple Science Experiments or Projects

Create a solar windmill, or a volcano, try out experiments with household items.

12. Book Club with Friends

Pick a book. Read. Meet once a week to discuss. Do it either in person or virtually.

13. Daily Drawing or Photography Challenge

Decide on a theme. Create a collage of either drawings or photographs or both. Explore your creative expression each day.

These activities below are for the older children. The younger children can try it out under supervision.

14. Build A Portfolio

Create a passion project with something meaningful like poetry, coding project, digital art portfolio or even build your own website or blogs page. A perfect way to showcase your achievements and talents.

15. Volunteer Locally or Online

Lend a helping hand at animal shelters or libraries, or the local flea market. Provide virtual tutoring or mentoring.

16. Join An Internship Programme

Learn about real-world work and gain practical exposure. Good time to learn new responsibilities. Try it with a Local Business or Family Member.

17. Gain Financial Literacy

Learn about accounting, saving and budgeting, understand investing and markets. Track your expenses to learn from experience.

18. Take an Online Course

Build up your skill sets by exploring graphic design, public speaking, psychology, or entrepreneurship.

These are just ideas. Build on them. Make it suitable for your child. Maybe even try a combination of two or more activities.

The objective is to fuel learning beyond the textbooks. Time for us to think out-of-the-box!

Books by My Bedside

The Mademoiselle Alliance by Natasha Lester

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Hell It's Mine

As a versatile creator with a deep passion for the written word, my journey in the creative world has been one of exploration and celebration. From the very beginning, I embraced the freedom of writing without restricting myself within boundaries, allowing my creativity to flow across a variety of topics. Starting out as a blogger, I made a conscious decision not to limit myself to a specific niche. This openness has been the cornerstone of my creative process, resulting in a body of work that is both authentic and heartfelt. I’ve explored everything from movie reviews and book analysis to the evolving landscapes of culture, tradition and current affairs. The freedom to write about what genuinely interests me has allowed me to connect with readers on a multitude of levels, sparking meaningful conversations and igniting curiosity. Writing over time, however, I discovered a deep-rooted passion for parenting and child development—perhaps due to my years as an educator. This has become my niche and the focus of a significant part of my work. My aim is to inspire, inform, and engage my audience, leaving an indelible impact with every piece I create. In addition to writing, I’ve taken my love for education a step further by launching an online store offering unique educational printables designed for primary-grade learners. These resources are thoughtfully crafted to engage young minds and make their learning journey enjoyable and effective. It brings me immense joy to know that educators and parents alike are using these tools to enhance their children’s learning experiences, making it engaging, educational and entertaining. For me, this journey has only just begun. As I continue to explore new creative pathways, through my blogs, newsletters, and eBooks, I’m excited about where this endless adventure will lead next.

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