Though vacations are the time to relax and enjoy, the process of learning should never stop. Studies have shown that kids do tend to drift back in learning during vacations. As a parent our goal should be to keep their inquisitive minds engaged in various fun summer activities and continue the process of learning. Learning new life skills, values can be incorporated in the summer plan for kids. In this article you will find a list of things to teach your kids and keep them on the track of learning throughout this vacation. 

1. Cooking - Learning to cook is a valuable life skill that will benefit your kids for years to come. Not only will they be able to feed themselves when they're older, but they'll also learn about nutrition and healthy eating habits. You can start by teaching your kids identification of the cereals, pulses, dairy products and other ingredients of cooking and then teach them simple recipes, such as grilled cheese sandwiches or scrambled eggs. Go for the non fire cooking options for toddlers. As they get older, you can teach them more complex dishes. 

2. Cleaning and Chores - Another important life skill is learning how to clean. This includes things like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming. You can start by assigning your toddlers small tasks, such as putting away their toys or making their beds during the vacation. You can ask the older kids to wash their dishes and also wash a dress. Give them a soap bar and a brush. Did you know that washing utensils and doing their clothes actually strengthen their fine motor skills? Doing their own tasks makes them more responsible and also takes the load off your shoulders.

3. Money Management - It's never too early to start teaching your kids about money management. This includes things like budgeting, saving, and investing. Gift your kiddos a piggy bank and a weekly allowance which they can spend over the weekend. You can top this up with rewards against their household chores. Discuss the importance of saving and budgeting with them. You can also help them open a savings account and teach them about the importance of saving for the future. 

4. First Aid - It's always a good idea to teach your kids basic first aid skills. Utilize this vacation to teach this life saving skill to children. You can find first aid kits at most drugstores. There are also many online resources that offer first aid courses. It is essential for older children and teens, who stay home alone or go places without adult supervision as well as younger kids, to have basic first aid skills. When children have first aid knowledge, they are less likely to panic during an emergency and may even save the life of a loved one or friend.

5. Gardening - Garden can be an area of interactive play for kids which engages all their senses and teaches them an array of skills. Planting seeds, taking care of plants teaches them care and responsibility. Watching their plants grow teaches them cause and effect and observing the flowers and fruits bloom lends them a sense of fulfilment. Teach your kids gardening this vacation. Involve the toddlers in planting and watering of the plants. 

6. Academics - The toddlers and preschoolers have a lot to do in the summer, to keep learning their  numbers, revising their alphabets, count, identify colours and shapes. Learning through activities makes it fun for them and is the best option for the little munchkins. Continuing to learn in the vacation helps them hone up their skills and get ready for the academic year. Explore many more fun learning activities for toddlers and preschoolers on Mumpa that you can try out for teaching the little ones.   

7. Newspaper Reading - Use the time of vacation for your kids to read newspapers. Reading newspapers helps in developing their language, improves reading skills, adds new vocabulary and exposes kids to different styles of writing. It helps in expanding their knowledge base on a wide range of topics from politics and environment to sports and entertainment. Select specific articles for them to read initially.The younger kids can be asked to read the headlines only and preschoolers can identify the letters.

8. Composting - Composting is a great way to reduce waste and help the environment. It's also a fun and educational activity that kids can participate in.There are many different ways to compost. You can use a compost bucket/ bin / pot. Show kids how to add materials (wet waste - e.g. peels of fruits and vegetables) to the bucket, turn it over and cover it with soil/dry leaves/cocopeat. Kids love to get their hands dirty. Let them help you collect food scraps, add them to the compost bin, and turn it over. Make it fun by playing games and reading books on composting.

9. Summer Crafts - Crafts are a great way for kids to express their creativity. Many crafts require kids to use their fine motor skills, such as cutting, pasting and gluing. This can help improve their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.  Popular summer crafts include paper flowers, butterfly art, paper boat-making, and all types of origami. Crafts can be a great way for kids to learn about different topics, such as art, history and science but most importantly, crafts are a lot of fun for kids and help them to destress! 

10. Make a Bio- Diversity Register - Encourage kids to make a list of plants, birds and animals found in your locality. Accompany them on nature walks and bird watching trips and help them in identifying the species. There are different mobile apps available which makes this task easy. This will help kids to connect with nature and learn about it. It will also encourage the little scientists to appreciate biodiversity, make informed decisions about their impact on the environment and participate in biodiversity conservation. 

These are just a few ideas for fun summer activities. By taking the time to teach your kids valuable life skills, you can truly help them become well-rounded and successful adults.