Some of the Best Learning Happens in Summer

Welcome to our summer series: Thoughts On Childhood and Learning.  

As parents, it can be easy to wonder whether children are "keeping up" over the summer months. Are they reading enough? Learning enough? Doing enough?

While academic skills certainly matter, many of the qualities that help children thrive in school and in life are developed outside of a classroom. Curiosity. Independence. Confidence. Problem-solving. Communication. Creativity. These are the habits that help children become lifelong learners, and summer is full of opportunities to practice them.

Growth happens when children build forts in the backyard, negotiate the rules of a game with friends, help make dinner, spend an afternoon exploring a creek, get lost in a book, ask endless questions, or sit around a campfire listening to family stories. It happens during road trips, neighborhood walks, family traditions, and even in those moments when children complain that they are bored.

In fact, boredom is often where some of the best learning begins.

When children aren't constantly entertained or directed, they have the opportunity to invent and imagine. They learn to manage their own time and pursue their own interests. These experiences build the same skills we work to cultivate every day at Marylhurst.

Supporting your child's growth this summer does not require elaborate plans or a packed schedule. Often, the most meaningful learning experiences are the simplest ones.

As you enjoy the weeks ahead, we encourage you to embrace the opportunities that summer naturally provides: unstructured play, outdoor adventures, reading and writing together, family traditions, and plenty of time to wonder, explore, and connect.

Try This! 

Set aside 15 minutes for a device-free family conversation.

No agenda. No teaching. No correction.

Simply ask a question and see where the conversation goes.

You might try:

• What was the best part of your day?
• What's something you've been wondering about lately?
• If you could learn anything this summer, what would it be?
• What's a problem in the world you wish you could solve?

You may be surprised where children's curiosity leads when they have the time and space to share it, and their answers may pave the way for a really interesting summer project, experiment, or adventure.