Remembering Education While On Vacation

Hello Readers! My name is Kendra Thornton, and I am so happy to be able to share some traveling tips with you today on The Groovy Teacher! I am a long time travel expert and mama of 3 who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home.  I hope you enjoy, and feel free to connect with me if you have any questions at all!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KendraThornton

Website: http://www.thorntonpr.com/ 

Remembering Education While on Vacation

Family vacations are a great time to get away from the hustle and bustle of real life and relax, but it’s important for your kids that you don’t neglect their schoolwork and their studies. Summer vacation is supposed to be about relaxing, but we have to be certain not to leave behind academics all together! Getting away during the summer can create lasting memories for both you and your family, and there are tons of opportunities to make studying fun while on your family getaway! Help keep your kids’ education at the forefront by incorporating these tips in your family vacation.

1. Creative Cameras  

  

Many people’s best memories come from family vacations. Help harness your child’s creativity by teaching them about photography! Before leaving, give your child their own disposable camera so they can photograph everything they find interesting. When you return home, develop the film and spend time with your kids putting together a scrapbook. This is a great way to bond together as a family upon returning, as well as an awesome way to bring out your children’s creative side.

2. Research Your Hotel

Look past just the price tag when searching for a hotel for your family. Most destinations have resorts that have kid-friendly activities, such as horseback rides, water parks, or craft centers. This is a great way to provide your children with certain study-based incentives! If they complete an hour of their summer reading, make sure you reward them with a family trip to the waterpark later in the day. Also, look online and read reviews about the hotel rooms. When traveling with my family in Florida, I used Gogobot to read user reviews and search through a great list of Orlando hotels. Look for rooms that are big enough where your family won’t feel cramped being together, and so that the kids have the necessary space to read or write at a desk. If the rooms don’t have much space at all besides just the bed, it will be difficult for your kids to accomplish much studying.

3. Easy Flying    

Planning ahead can make going through security with your family easier and less stressful. Print out your boarding passes ahead of time to skip the check-in line. This will let you bypass the initial wait for tickets, and you can go straight to security. If your kids are old enough that then need to remove their shoes for security, have them wear slip-ons or sandals instead of shoes with laces. Try to keep all your belongings consolidated so that you don't leave anything behind, and make sure to check what you can and can’t bring through airport security.

4. Vacation Routines    

While on vacation, it is very common for families to get so caught up in whatever the day’s activities are that meals get pushed back, or even skipped. If kids skip a meal, they often become cranky. Make sure to try to keep eating schedules the same, even while in a new place. The same goes for maintaining a studying period. If your children are on a regular eating and reading schedule at home, make sure they stick to the same schedule while on vacation. Also, keep this in mind with sleep as well. Kids may actually need more rest, as traveling can be very tiring. Going on vacation does not mean that regular routines should be thrown out the window.

5. Instant Entertainment

Electronic devices are great for traveling, as they provide an outlet for the children (and even for us adults!). This means less crabbiness as the hours in the car or airport build up. Instead of letting your kids get consumed by videogames and texting, provide them with an educational movie or an audiobook. The options here are endless, and you can even let the kids get involved in picking what they want to watch or listen to. This will likely make them more receptive to the idea, as it provides them with some ownership of the task.

A summer vacation is an excellent time for your kids to continue with their summer reading and studying as they prepare to head back to school soon. There are also lots of fun, educational, and creative things for your kids to do while away from home, so be sure to take advantage! I hope these tips come in handy for your family, and remember: have fun!