Springdale Academy, Hillsborough Township‘s best Montessori Preschool shares how to create a memorable yet practical summer experience with Montessori-inspired summer activities.

Wondering if there are any Montessori-inspired summer activities? Springdale Academy, a Montessori-accredited preschool and daycare has got you covered. Summer breaks are a wonderful time for children to relax, regroup, and recharge, and also continue their Montessori education outside the classrooms. In this blog, we will explore how parents can make their children’s summer break experience memorable yet practical by promoting independence, responsibility, and a love for the natural world through engaging activities that facilitate hands-on learning.

Why is it essential to continue Montessori Education during summer break?

Being a Montessori preschool, at Springdale Academy, we believe in nurturing the holistic development of our students by providing them with a stimulating environment that encourages them on a path of creativity and curiosity while simultaneously building their self-awareness, self-care, academic skills, empathy, and confidence. As such, practical skills and a deep connection with the natural world are key to this. They allow us to promote fine and gross motor skill development along with mobility, balance, language, and sensorial development.

Giving children the opportunity to stir up life and leave it free to discover

– Dr. Maria Montessori

By incorporating the principles of Montessori Education of self-directed learning and respect during the summer break, parents can build upon what the children have already embraced at our preschool and reaffirm the child’s natural and holistic development.

Use your child’s summer break as an opportunity to engage them in cleaning and organizing tasks at home. You empower them with valuable life skills by involving them in age-appropriate household chores such as dusting, sweeping, or organizing their belongings. You can give demonstrate the technique and then let them take the lead, offering advice only when they initiate the need for it.

You can also take advantage of the weather and plan family outings to parks, beaches, or nature reserves. Encourage exploration by letting your child observe and interact with the environment. Bring along a magnifying glass and a journal where they can document their discoveries. Be an active part of the process by pointing out interesting plants, insects, animal tracks, and sounds. When you show enthusiasm and curiosity, children themselves will follow suit, making the entire world around you filled with a sense of wonder.

Shared experiences such as these will strengthen the parent-child bond and cultivate a positive work ethic and responsibility and a love for the natural world and beings that live in it. When we instill practical skills and an appreciation for nature early on, we lay down a solid foundation for their future success.

Summer Fun – Springdale Academy Way

Montessori Education emphasizes children becoming in charge of their education through self-directed and hands-on learning experiences in a prepared environment. This, in turn, gives children the ability to do things on their own, which helps them with responsibility, organization skills, planning, executing, and problem-solving. So, with that in mind here are three of our favorite Montessori inspired summer activities:

1. Fruit/Vegetable Picking – Summer is the season of yummy fruits and vegetables, and one of the best ways for children to understand where food comes from is to take them to a local pick-up farm. Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, all kinds of berries! And that’s not all, we have also got tomatoes, corn and so much more. They will see how plants grow, what they need, and even what they sense. Once home, you can help the children in cleaning, preparing, and making a snack out of the treasures you just picked out.
2. Picnics – Summers are when everything is in full bloom! Which makes it the best time for a picnic right? This is a great way for children to hone their practical life skills by planning, preparing, and executing a picnic. And then you can cap it off with a feast outside surrounded by singing birds, fluttering butterflies, the warmth of the sun, and course, come good old’ water play. Practical skills along with Sensorial Learning! Montessori Education at its best.
3. Outdoor Adventures – This one rules the roost! Outdoor adventures can be anything. You can go camping or on a hike or you can even turn your hike into a nature scavenger hunt. As you hit the trail you can collect treasures and make sure you let them take the lead, if you decide to go camping, you can help them plan it out and make preparations. When you are at your spot, put away your screens and encourage the entire family to immerse themselves in their surroundings. If there are any streams nearby, go there and learn about the native life in and around the place. The best part? Stargazing! Ah yes, that clear night sky glittering with stars. Print out a few constellation charts and try to find them with the kids. This is one educational experience that never feels like learning and yet we assure you, you will pick up a lot of new things along the way.

So, you see, just because it’s summer break doesn’t mean your child’s Montessori Education has to take a backseat. Summer breaks are the perfect opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime. And guess what? The activities we have mentioned so far are just the beginning. There are so many more Montessori inspired summer activities that will make this summer break a truly transformative and enriching experience for children.

Embrace this summer break as a time for growth, learning, and bonding with your child. Meanwhile, if you need some more Montessori-inspired parenting tips, connect with Springdale Academy, the best Montessori preschool in New Jersey through social media, email, or just fill out the form on this page.