As you may know July is Anti-Boredom Month. To encourage learning through fun, Target and Search Institute, a Minneapolis nonprofit, have developed a summer-long series of boredom-busting learning activities that give kids a mental and physical workout. This series of tips is one of the many ways Target is inspiring parents and caring adults to nurture a child's love of learning all summer long.Beat boredom with a few tips to help awaken imagination and spark curiosity in kids:
Get lost! Pile into the minivan and just drive, with no destination in mind. Treat it like a grand adventure: discover a new town, find an untouched patch of nature, grab lunch at a roadside diner. Let your kids decide when it's time to stop somewhere. Wherever you land, you'll find something or somewhere brand new to you. Why It Matters: Children are naturally curious about anything and everything. So when you engage them in activities that stretch their imaginations and let them explore, they soak it up like little sponges! One study even showed that boys who had many chances to explore and experiment in preschool scored higher on creativity tests several years later. Every excursion brings new experiences and expands kids' view of the world, so hit the road! (Recommended for all ages)
Make a splash! Fill buckets or the kitchen sink with colored water (just add a couple drops of food coloring), strap on an apron, and let your kids get wet 'n' wild. For toys, use kitchen tools such as funnels, strainers, paper cups, and plastic baggies. Why It Matters: The more your kids play, the smarter they get! The American Academy of Pediatrics says playing builds kids' creativity and imagination, dexterity, physical strength, and healthy brain development. And when you just let them be, kids learn to work in groups, negotiate, and problem-solve as they play! (Recommended for ages 3-5)
Create a coloring book! Budding artists can use black ink on white paper to illustrate summer scenes, race cars, or whatever they love to draw. Make copies, staple, and distribute to friends and family! Host a contest with a small prize, encouraging people to send back their fully-colored pages. Why It Matters: Art not only colors your kids' world, but makes them better learners. A series of recent studies by the Dana Foundation showed that when kids experiment with art, they have improved attention spans and a better understanding of what they learn at school. (Recommended for ages 6-9)
Get your groove on! Ask tech-savvy kids to make a summer soundtrack of cool songs. They'll love introducing you to new music, and you'll get an insight into the artists they love. Then, risk embarrassment by dancing your heart out! Why It Matters: Learning to play music has been shown to improve school-aged kids' IQs, but even just listening to music has positive effects. For instance, research shows that when children listen to classical music, the right hemispheres of their brains practically light up, boosting things like memory and creativity. Plus, listening to music can boost the immune system and decrease stress. That's good for the whole family! (Recommended for ages 10-13)
The tips can be accessed through the Play + Learn tab on Target's Facebook page: facebook.com/Target
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