Summer Learning Ideas That Benefit Your Brain
Summer is a time for fun and relaxation, but it can also be an opportunity to learn new things and exercise your brain. Whether you’re a student on break or an adult looking to expand your knowledge, there are plenty of activities you can do that will benefit your brain. Summer learning is critical to help eliminate the summer slide and maintain momentum for next school year—but that doesn’t mean you have to do boring worksheets! Here are some summer learning ideas for the whole family:
Read for pleasure
Reading is one of the best ways to exercise your brain and expand your knowledge. During the summer, take some time to read books that interest you, whether they are fiction, non-fiction, or even graphic novels. Reading can improve your vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, and it can also help you relax and reduce stress.
Read more: why do summer reading + tips to make it more successful >>
Learn a new language
Learning a new language is a great way to challenge your brain and improve your cognitive abilities. You can enroll in a language course, use language learning apps, or practice speaking with native speakers. Learning a new language can also enhance your cultural understanding and make travel more enjoyable.
Check out this list of free online language learning resources for kids.
Take an online or in-person course for fun
Summer is a perfect time to take an online course and expand your knowledge in a specific area. There are countless online and in-person courses available on a variety of topics, from coding to history to cooking. These courses can help you acquire new skills, enhance your resume, and make you more competitive in the job market.
For kids, these can be geared towards a new hobby like painting, learning an instrument, a sport, or another interest. Making learning fun and applicable to things they care about can build learning skills that will benefit them for life!
Volunteer
Summer learning is a great opportunity to take your family into real-life situations. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and learn new skills at the same time. There are countless organizations that need volunteers during the summer, from animal shelters to food banks to environmental groups. Volunteering can also provide opportunities to meet new people, develop leadership skills, and gain work experience.
Build Brain Skills to Make Learning Easier
Instead of reinforcing content during the summer, this can be a season where you work on the way the brain interacts with the world in the first place. Brain training targets cognitive weaknesses that make learning, reading, focusing, and thinking harder than they need to be. Building skills like memory, processing speed, and executive function can set you up for a better school year, and summer is a great time to do it without the added stress of doing it after school hours.
