If you have a child in elementary school, they have probably come home with some sort of summer packet. I’ve seen the “packet” take various forms: from a list of innovative ways to encourage reading to a dull packet of worksheets. Either way, parents and educators alike want to encourage learning outside of school and during a time that has been characterized as the “summer slide.”  I hope some of the ideas on how to build a collection will inspire your family to engage in playful learning this summer. Adjust as you see fit for age and your schedule.

1. Choose a topic in which your child is interested and then find a space in your home where you can place a table and don’t mind hanging things on the wall.
2. Begin building your collection by visiting your local library and selecting several books.
3. Find other toys and household items that you don’t mind donating to the cause.
4. Use these items in a way that they can explore them with their senses, i.e. what does the flower smell like or what sound do seeds make in a bottle. Also allow them to manipulate the toys or objects so they are using they are able to discover how things work and practice their fine motor skills.
5. Build a model, draw pictures and display.
6. Add vocabulary words.
7. Take it outside of the home and “experience” the topic, i.e. pick flowers or keep a journal of flowers you see during your day.
8. Take to the community and visit a museum, local store, etc. Take pictures and post in the collection area.

Helpful Hints

• Collect, create and display together!
• Keep the collection at their height.
• When they are ready, change it up or expand on the topic, i.e. flowers – gardening – water cycle.
• Let them come and go on their own and edit along the way.
• Have fun!