Kari has written about educational and fun summer activities in a recent blog. I highly recommend you try some of them over the summer. I believe they apply to homeschoolers as well as traditionally schooled children.
I want to add to the list some fun and educational activities that homeschoolers will want to consider for while taking a break from your normal homeschool activities. I have already written several here. http://homeschooling.families.com/blog/a-z-summer-activites-for-homeschoolers-pt-1-a-g and here . http://homeschooling.families.com/blog/a-z-summer-activities-for-homeschoolers-pt-2-h-n
O= online. Summer is a great time to find online games and programs that will help sharpen your kid’s minds. They can play chess with strangers, or find fun programs they can play solo. Children learn more when they do not realize they are learning.
P= Pen pals. Encourage the kids to get pen pals and write to each other. They can learn about other cultures and work on writing skills.
Q= questions: Instead of following a curriculum over the summer. Start a question notebook. Every time your child asks a question, write it down, and spend a few minutes each day researching and finding the answers together.
R= reports. Encourage kids to write one book report a week to go with whatever books they have read. Summer is a great time to work on writing skills that may have been neglected during the year.
S= Science camp. Have the kids spend a week or two at one of numerous science camps during the summer. Remember, you must keep them socializing!
T= talking books. If you and your kids do not feel like reading this summer, do not. Instead, get books on tape and listen to your favorite stories. Discuss the stories and talk about plot, settings and outcomes. This will get their minds ready for creative writing.
U= unit study. If you want to continue learning this summer, but want a change of pace, try doing a unit study this summer of your child’s favorite subject.
V= vocabulary. Do a word a day program to help improve you and your children’s vocabulary.
W= Word games. Do crossword puzzles, play hangman, and scrabble during the summer to help build vocabulary and to improve spelling.
X= Xylophone. Buy one. Let your child explore a new instrument this summer. Something simple like a xylophone, recorder, or bongos can be mastered over the summer.
Y= Yard Sales. Get your garage and basement cleaned out while teaching kids about money by encouraging yard sales. Just make sure they run sales items past you first.
Z= zest. Spend the summer exploring recipes using citrus fruits. By researching, and making recipes, your child will learn fractions, and the importance of following directions.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!
* Have you seen the homeschooling curriculum glossary?