Just because your kids are on summer break does not mean that schooling should stop. I remember growing up and my dad made sure that my education consistently evolved rather weekday, weekend or summer. At first I hated it because I felt like it took my time away from playing, but my dad got creative and even involved some of my friends so that it became fun and I looked forward to it every day. On the days when my dad didn’t feel up to it, my friends became disappointed and would ask about our daily learning block.

Once I became a mommy, I realized the importance of continuing schooling…..mommy and daddy style. It makes a difference in my opinion 2 ways. First, I am able to make sure that my children’s education and learning style is beneficial to them and their culture. Second, I am able to see the strengths and weaknesses that I need to work on with them.

Here are 5 things that you can do with the kids for summer ‘homeschooling’:

History: teaching family history is important in black families. It is crucial that you know where you are coming from to know where you are going. Take the opportunity to sit them down and create a family tree. They can fill in all the spots that they know and make it a task for them to ask family members so that they can fill out the majority or whole tree before summer break is over. Maybe taking a road trip to visit old neighborhoods or cities in which other family members grew up in would be memorable.

English: ROAD TRIP!!!! My family just came back from our yearly vacation. I made road trip booklets and they enjoyed every bit of it. They had to find billboard slogans and revamp the slogan that better fit the product or we played I spy with interstate signs…..the options are limitless.

Math: As a kid (and as an adult, lol) I disliked math. I appreciate the normal functionality of it but when it came to algebra and geometry I hated it. But I learned from my mother the importance of math when it came to building things. My mom was the builder and handyman of my household. Taught by her father, she knew how to lay carpet, put up drywall and even do plumbing. So numbers to her meant a lot, especially when going to Home Depot.

Try building a cardboard house with them that they can play in when completed. Map your lesson out so that you create a blueprint, purchase your tools and materials (a store that sells appliances would have free big boxes), and then build section by section. Not only will your kids enjoy the finished product but they will enjoy the time and attention they get with you making it.

Science: Every kid loves to see stuff spill over, explode and mold. What better way to do that than to set up an experiment right in your kitchen. My husband is famous for showing the kids how stuff molds when you leave it out or what happens when you mix the wrong chemicals. Try that with your children, but always be cautious and safe when doing so. The internet will be your best friend on this one.

Home Economics: Teach them a craft/ skill that they don’t know or may not have the hang of doing. I teach my girls what I consider to be ‘lost crafts’ such as sewing, washing clothes by hand and line hanging them, shelf reorganizing, and my method to food shopping, etc.