Found Frolicking

Disclosure: Thank you to Nakturnal for sponsoring this content. I received compensation in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed below are my own. For more information, please refer to the disclosure that can be found at the bottom of this post.

Have you looked at the calendar today? Can you believe your eyes? The first day of summer is fast approaching. After all, June 21st is just around the corner! The seasons have come and gone, and with them, so has gone the school year. Perhaps your child, or children, have already graduated from their current grade and summer break has officially begun, or you're preparing for this event in the week or so to come. Regardless, the abrupt schedule change can be difficult at best, as the routine you worked diligently to implement had finally become easy---and BAM! Goodbye, predictability (again).

In the coming months, it is essential to come up with a strategy for keeping children on track so they are ready for the 2018-2019 school year. Although it may seem crazy, summers always go fast, and it's stressful to be scrambling to figure out your life all over again when school begins. We love to take advantage of the warm weather to squeeze in as many day trips as we can. Embarking on little adventures offer great sensory play opportunities and memorable experiences for children especially. But don't stop there! You can't have a proper meal without it offering healthy and balanced nutrition. Similarly, the best way to nourish the minds of our children all summer long is with brain food. And it doesn't get much better than STEM curriculum!

What is STEM? The STEM curriculum which can be found in many schools and other educational centers are based on teaching four specific disciplines: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes long-term benefits to teaching STEM-based curriculum as an invaluable aspect to the brain development of children.

STEM learning is a great way to pique the interest of children of all ages, and feed their active, growing minds. Unfortunately, not all schools follow a STEM curriculum despite it's benefits. But there are plenty of ways to integrate the STEM values into your child's summer on your own. Many public libraries also offer excellent summer reading programs, such as the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge at the Sacramento Public Library. Many of these programs are not only great free learning resources for your children, but also offer the chance for your child to win amazing prices to keep them motivated to keep reading all summer long---such as a remote control car, $250 gift card of the winner's choice, and a Nintendo Switch.

In recent years, there has been an abundance of new kids franchises. The clean environment, controlled temperature all year long, and the high-quality tools and toys at many locations are quite a draw for families. Both of my children are huge fans of building toys. We have a little of everything---LEGO® Duplo® bricks, Uncle Goose® blocks, HABA® dominoes, Lincoln Logs®, Magformers, and more. But unless you live in a mansion, there's only so much you can acquire before storage becomes impossible. Which is why my children beg to visit these types of places on a regular basis, and I don't have to feel guilty for taking them because I know they are guaranteed to receive hours of entertainment and mental stimulation in the process. One great option is Snapology, which has a new location coming soon in Sacramento, CA. They even offer a STEM summer camp! In our own personal experience, our son submerses himself more into STEM lessons and programs when they are offered at his school, and I know he would love and benefit from the summer camp offered here.

A balance of outdoor activities (don't forget sunscreen!), appropriate grade level workbooks to prepare for their upcoming grade, arts and crafts to inspire creativity, and science projects that can be done from your home are a few excellent ways to keep busy little minds active and at work for June, July, and August. What do you have planned this summer? Share in the comments below! Wherever the coming months take you, we hope that many adventures await you and yours!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received a small compensation to facilitate the writing of this content. All opinions expressed are my own, and were in no way influenced by the brand or any other sources. The post and all photos with the watermark are the property of Found Frolicking, and should not be used or distributed in any way without first receiving permission.

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