The clock is ticking on summer and it's time to start prepping those brains for back to school. Shifted sleep schedules, excess screen time, and lazy days are all perfect summer activities, but not so great for prime academic performance. Prep for school success with these ideas that probably won't feel like work at all.
1. Get In the Routine
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but one of the best things you can do to prep kids for school is getting them back on a routine. That means enforcing bedtimes but also wake times and meal times. Ease in now and that early morning school day alarm won't be quite so terrible.
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2. Playtime is Brain Time
Sometimes building brain power is as easy as ready, set, play. A University of Miami study found connections between creative play and cognitive ability. Not prepared to organize endless playtime activities? No worries. KiwiCo will deliver expertly designed activities that'll kick those brains into high gear. All you have to do is open the box. And right now get 50% off your first box with code MACARONI. #ad
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3. Move It or Lose It
Staying active can be easy during the summer with trips to the pool, bike rides, and outdoor play. But if the dog days have kept you housebound, it's time to start breaking a sweat. Studies show that physical activity is good for kids' brains, especially boosting memory and the ability to focus. Grab the soccer ball, it's time to work out those brains.
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4. Game On
There's no better reason to enact family game night than getting those brains back in shape. According to clinical psychologist, Beatrice Tauber Prior, board games can boost frontal lobe development in kids. Have fun family time and set them up for school success in one? Bingo.
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5. Let the Past Build Their Future
Time to knock those summer field trips off your bucket list. Educational outings like trips to a museum, planetarium, or science center get kids asking questions and inspire them to explore something new. And a 2021 study from Johns Hopkins University found that curious kids grow up smarter and happier. Sign the permission slip on a day of learning.
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