Should You Consider Summer School for Your Kids?
May 17, 2011, By Christian Cawley 0 comments
Summer school. Few names spark more fear and dread in the world of kids. You might as well be threatening to send them to a penal colony. Back when we were kids, it was the place where kids were sentenced to bring up low grades or to make up for missed class time—sort of a punishment.
But summer school is much more diverse today. It isn't just for underperformers anymore. There are often great opportunities available for those who are already doing well—and it's a lot more interesting and fun. Summer school can introduce your kids to new activities and educational pursuits that aren’t normally offered during the standard school year. If you’re concerned about summer school eating into family time, look for classes that you and your kids can take together.
Languages, Music and Art
Summer school gives kids opportunities to spend time doing something completely new to them—such as project-based arts and crafts, music or learning a new language. Most summer schools run shorter hours than the usual school day, so there is still plenty of time for family activities. It also gives working parents an opportunity to ensure their kids are having fun and learning new things while they're at work.
Additionally, summer school can be a jumping-off point—not only to new interests in art, sports, music and languages but also to activities at home. Why let your kids spend the summer bored and restless and watching hours of TV when they could be having a lot more fun with other kids?
NEXT: Matching a Course to a Child
