Dear Jido,
As the school year winds down, my husband and I are starting to worry about two important things: maintaining our kids’ academic momentum and keeping their spiritual connection alive during the summer break. We want to ensure they stay intellectually engaged, but without the structure of schoolwork weighing them down. How can we make learning feel like fun?
Additionally, we’re looking for creative ways to keep their spiritual motivation strong, especially in a way that reflects our community’s customs and values. Are there specific practices or activities that can help them stay connected, both mentally and spiritually, while also making it easier for us as parents to keep them on track?
We’d love your advice on how to strike the right balance of learning, fun, and faith this summer!
Signed,
Stressed about Summer
Dear Stressed,
Kudos on your question.
Unstress. Gd bless our Community that they offer so many ways to keep our children connected and happy during the summer months.
Whether you are in Deal or Brooklyn for the summer, there are several day camps that offer limited learning in the mornings and fun in the afternoons. Certainly, for the older children, there are also morning prayer services. (I would give you the names of a few, but I would lose my license). Check them out, I’m sure you’ll find a few that satisfy.
More than that, there are two other things that can be done. (1) You and your husband become the morah and rebbi. There is a fabulous website from Torah U’Mesorah called chinuch.org. That’s where almost all of our yeshiva teachers get they’re posters, coloring pages, and lessons from. It’s free for the searching. Pick out a few each week, print them out and let the kids enjoy. Review the parasha pages with them on Shabbat.
Speaking of Shabbat – it has to be fun! (2) Get together with families for lunch, spend afternoons together, sing songs, make sure there’s plenty of summer desserts (ices, parve ice cream, watermelon). Most of our shuls have special father/son minyanim. Take advantage of them.
Most of all – love, love , love. Hug them, kiss them, and take them on Sunday trips. It’s something they will treasure forever – even if they get the wrong answer on a parasha question!
Enjoy! Jido