Simple Brain Boosters for Summer Days

If you need inspiration for summer activities to help keep your child’s mental skills sharp, read on for a few fun options to consider. The best part? These activities are screen-free, accessible, and perfect for inspiring inquisitive minds.

Read, read and read some more

Whether your summer plans keep you close to home or take you on the road to a new destination, take time to explore the experience through books with your child beforehand. Reading about it in advance helps bring the adventure to life and makes it even more meaningful once you’re there.

Visit the local library

Schedule a weekly trip to your local public library with your child. It’s a community treasure that offers inexpensive access to a wide selection of books, enrichment programs, and other resources. Each week, let your child pick out several books to read on their own or have you read aloud to them. By making this a regular habit, you’ll build a love of reading while giving your child exciting new adventures to explore through stories.

Encourage letter writing and drawing

Keep your child’s writing skills sharp this summer by encouraging letter writing to friends and relatives. Scan each letter before sending, and store with photos, videos and other digital keepsakes for years of cherished memories.

Play word morph

Start with a three-letter word and change just one letter at a time, taking turns to see how many different words you can create.

Try something like: dog → dig → big → rig → rip → tip.

You get the idea. Challenge your child to beat your word chain and make it a fun, brain-boosting game during car rides, quiet time, or family game night.

Want more brain boosters?

You’ll find more ways to keep your child’s mind engaged this summer in Chapter 11 of Eating For A’s. (It’s the extra credit goal for June.) You’ll also learn about summer hydration. Staying properly hydrated helps your child’s body and brain stay sharp while they dive into books, games, and other summer adventures.

Here’s to bright, brainy and well-hydrated summer!

Lorna & Kathleen (The EatingFor Team)

P.S. Like this tip? For more, check out Eating for A’s: A month-by-month nutrition and lifestyle guide to help raise smarter kids. Kindergarten to 6th grade. (Second Edition)