Learning never ceases during the course of our lifetime.  So too, kids need to be motivated to learn as much as they can, even during summer recess.  Summer fun and learning can co-exist.  Here are some examples of how this can be achieved.

Word games, such as Scrabble, come in small sizes, which are suitable for beach and road trips.  Kids love it!  It stimulates their vocabulary and engages them in friendly competition.  It also enhances their math skills, as they have to add the points every round.  Boggle is another portable word game that kids love.  They can manipulate the letters, make words, and add up points.  This is a great game to take on a camping trip or to the beach.

There are board games that allow the kids to work on words and sentences.  There are computer games, which involve critical thinking.  These games can be competitive, and reinforce group work, and cooperative learning, as well.  Using these types of games keeps the stimulation of the kid’s minds at work.  It’s critical to keep the thought processes flowing, so they are prepared for the following school year.  In playing these games, they can also be taught to accept defeat gracefully.

Another board game, which involves critical thinking, is checkers.  The entire family can challenge each other.  This promotes social stimulation.  Suduko is a game involving math and numbers.  They have a kid’s version, which can be utilized on a rainy day or when there is some down time.

The advantage of utilizing and playing these games is learning, even though the kids do not realize it.  In this way, while they are having fun over the summer, they are actually preparing for the fall term.  Learning not only stimulates their minds, but also reinforces the skills they are taught throughout the school year.  In addition, there are some great sites for computer savvy kids you might want to look at.  They are funbrain.com, math.com, and abcteach.com.

Summer fun and learning can co-exist by utilizing these games and word play.  Without realizing it, your kids will be ready for the next phase in their school career, because time was taken to teach and have fun at the same time.

     

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Name of event: Halloween Tricks and Treats Giveaway Event

When: Oct. 29-31, 2007 (3 days only)

Where: http://www.agreatmomgiveaway.com

     

Halloween fun recipes and party games!

Add something new to your Halloween traditions with these fun Halloween games and treats!

Mom’s grab your free copy of Halloween fun and make this the most memorable Halloween yet!

http://www.yeahmom.com/ebook/halloweenfun.pdf

     

Once the school buses start to roll and the bells begin to ring, you know it won’t be long before Friday night football begins. Whether your child plays or not, it’s likely that they will want to attend some of the games during the year. It’s normal for students to attend high school or college football games, not so much for the game, but for the social aspect of the game.
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Each year, millions of people clear an area for a garden, hoping to enjoy the fruits of the harvest throughout the summer. If they’ve had an especially bountiful garden, they may even be able to can or freeze some foods to enjoy long after the summer is over. Choosing to can or freeze your produce doesn’t need to be stressful, but will require a bit of extra time from you.
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Most people believe that once the weather begins to cool, gardening must come to an end. However, if you plan things correctly, the autumn can be the perfect time to start a whole new garden. Depending upon where you live, you can use the fall to plant some hardy vegetables and flowers.
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Each year hundreds of dollars are lost because homes aren’t winterized properly. Heat escapes through leaks around doors and windows or by inadequate insulation, but there are steps you can take to stop those leaks and keep more of your hard-earned money. By following these simple suggestions, you should be able to save money and help keep your family and yourself a little warmer this winter.
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Fall is a great time to enjoy activities that you may not have had the opportunity to enjoy during the summer because of the oppressive heat. Now would be a great time to plan a trip to enjoy the great outdoors. Camping, hiking, backpacking, and geocaching are just a few of the activities that would be more enjoyable during the crispness of autumn.
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Most people think that once the weather begins to change, the grass will stop growing and their yard duties will be over until the next spring. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, fall is a great time to begin planning and planting for spring, and making sure that your lawn and plants will be protected for the winter.
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Your automobile is one of the most expensive purchases you will make, outside of your home. So, if you plan on keeping your car in top working order, winterizing your car each year is a must. The following tips will help you know what you need to do to winterize your car before the cold weather arrives.
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Unless you live in Hawaii or some other tropical destination that the weather never changes, you probably have sports equipment that is only used during one season of the year. This equipment may include baseball, soccer, basketball, or swimming items. And, since you can’t use these items throughout the year, you have to store them during the off-season. These hints may help you decide how best to store your sporting equipment so that it’s ready for you when next year’s season arrives.
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The summer is winding down and the days are getting shorter. Soon the weather will begin to change, as well. Now would be a great time to begin a new hobby. In fact, cooler weather is the perfect time to try your hand at crocheting, knitting, or sewing. Not only will you be able to create a useful item, you may also keep yourself warmer during the colder temperatures.
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As the seasons change from summer to autumn, school systems and communities begin to plan for the annual fall or harvest festival. Thanksgiving, one of the most well-known holidays in the United States, is really nothing more than a harvest festival. The harvest festival, celebrated throughout the world, was used as a means to give thanks for an abundant harvest and a way to share the bounty with those less fortunate.
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If you’re a gardener, you know how expensive tools can be. If you leave them caked with dirt at the end of the summer you may have to replace them the next season. Proper care and maintenance at the end of summer can save money and help you start gardening sooner the next year. Follow these tips to keep your tools in working order for next year’s gardening season.
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It won’t be long until autumn officially begins. You can already feel the crispness in the air. You might even notice a little nip that hints at autumn’s soon return. Cooler weather causes the leaves to change throughout the country. It also encourages people to plan trips to enjoy nature’s beauty.
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Ah! As the weather begins to cool, people think about traditions from their childhood, activities that they used to enjoy as autumn descended upon their communities. Soon you will see men raking leaves into huge piles, and kids spreading the leaves as they jump into them. The scene is played out along streets and lanes and in the memories of those that once enjoyed the past time.
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When your child started kindergarten, one of the first historical people they learned about was John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. Chapman was known for traveling across the country helping pioneers plant apple trees. And, since apples are harvested in the late summer or early autumn, they are a common theme for a child’s first year of public school.
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