As many experienced parents are already well aware, figuring out which summer activities children will participate in generally takes some forward planning well in advance of schools everywhere setting them loose for a few months. If you haven’t approached this topic yet don’t worry, we have done some of the legwork for you!
If you are looking for unique activities that will allow your child to be creative while learning a skill that they can use in the future, Doodle Cakes is the perfect fit. Doodle Cakes teaches kids how to decorate pastries such as cupcakes, cookies and even cakes! Kim Gagne, owner of Doodle Cakes, explains, “We offer three major programs at Doodle Cakes: birthday parties, summer camps and field trips. For birthday parties, kids get to choose two colors in order to decorate a two-tier cake. We provide all of the decorating tools and everything that is needed for the activity, all you have to do is invite your guests and tell us how many to expect! Our four summer camps are offered in week-long sessions: June 9-13 from 9-noon, June 23-27 from 1-4 pm, July 14-18 from 1-4 pm, and July 28-August 1 from 9-noon. During our summer camps, we work on a different project each day. In conjunction with decorating fun, we also incorporate a variety of arts and crafts as well as an etiquette class that teaches kids skills such as appropriate table manners, how to set a table properly, and how to conduct themselves in different settings (for example, at a restaurant, at a buffet, dining at a friend’s house, etc.). Our classes are designed for kids to learn by doing, so at the end of the week they are a pro! On the final day of each class we have a huge party, which is a ton of fun and allows the kids to enjoy time with the new friends they have made. We utilize the services of our sister company, Rock Paradise, for karaoke and the kids have a blast getting dressed up like rock stars, belting out their favorite songs on a huge stage, and dancing the day away. Early bird registration is available right now for $100/session, and we encourage those who are interested to sign up as soon as possible—we added a fourth class because our three sessions sold out last year! We also love working with local preschools and daycares during the summer for field trips. We offer programs at our facility or we can visit on-site—there is truly something for everyone! Our most popular activity is cookie decorating, where the facility chooses from a selection of themes such as Stuart the Minion (he’s been very popular lately!). As many times daycare facilities have different themes that they plan around for each week, we can customize our activities to go along with whatever the theme might be. Decorating cakes and cupcakes is also an option, but cookies are great for working with a smaller budget. With all three of our programs, everything is included and there are no extras to purchase or worry about. Our goal is that we provide educational opportunities for kids that are fun, productive and safe.”
During the summer children can become easily bored when they are not involved in summer activities, and especially those that really do keep them active and engaged. Cheer and tumbling are great options for kids as they will benefit significantly by developing body strength, flexibility and endurance while enhancing their self-confidence. Recreational sports also keep kids mentally and physically engaged, which are both necessary for maintaining both health and happiness. Elite Cheer offers a variety of healthy summer activities for kids, including competitive cheer and tumbling, power and gymnastics tumbling, as well as martial arts such as karate and jiu jitsu. Kevin Hooker of Elite Cheer says, “With over 800 athletes in our diverse student population, we pride ourselves in offering a wide range of activities at different skill levels that appeal to a wide variety of interests. All classes are taught by qualified and certified instructors and are designed for students from pre-kindergarten all the way through college.”
Research from Johns Hopkins National Center for Summer Learning shows that children can lose 2.6 months of grade-level equivalency in math and two months in reading simply as a result of the summer slide. Also, according to the National Summer Learning Association, educators in the fall typically spend four to six weeks getting students back to where they were at the end of the previous academic year. This problem can be addressed with kids participating in summer activities that provide learning opportunities in addition to keeping them busy and active. During these programs, students have the opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom while avoiding summer learning loss and developing lifelong learning skills. Balancing athletic and creative activities that include learning opportunities is the perfect solution, along with factoring in some free time for kids to be just that–kids. As summer approaches, make sure to balance some relaxation away from the classroom grind with some fun activities that will keep your kids active, learning new and fun things, and meeting new friends!