Summer is here and it’s time to relax and rejuvenate! Your child(ren) may be thrilled from anticipating lazy days and sleeping in, but summer break isn’t always that stress-free for parents, especially when kids get bored once they run out of things to do. Here are a few tips and ideas to help keep your child entertained and your sanity intact. Tip 1: Prioritize Physical Activity Get the … [Read more...] about Parents: 7 Tips for a Successful Summer
Supporting Youth Mental Health: 5 Tips for Parents
One of the silver linings of the pandemic was bringing mental health awareness to the forefront of everyone’s mind. With the world turned upside down, young people and adults from all walks of life experienced big feelings like anxiety, depression, and frustration. Though COVID-19 is now better managed, we have new tools to support the mental wellbeing and general health of families. Whether or … [Read more...] about Supporting Youth Mental Health: 5 Tips for Parents
The Importance of Summer Break
April showers can bring May flowers, but the week or two of Spring Break is always a reminder that summer is just around the corner. While summer vacation offers children a much-needed break from learning in a classroom setting, it can be challenging for parents to plan for a balanced, enriching, extended break from school without the support of summer programs. At AYS, our team of youth-serving … [Read more...] about The Importance of Summer Break
How Play Strengthens Student Learning
Each person, regardless of age, has a preferred learning style that highlights how we best process, retain, and recall information. There are seven standard learning styles – visual, auditory, kinesthetic, verbal, logical, social, and solitary. Play is one activity that involves each of these styles. Whether it’s guided or unstructured, learning through play allows youth the opportunity to … [Read more...] about How Play Strengthens Student Learning
Take 5: Brain Breaks Help with Focus at Any Age
There has been plenty of research linking brain breaks to higher productivity among adults in the workplace, but recent studies (and observation during virtual learning) show that elementary school students also need regular, short breaks to move around, interact, and make something to be able to better focus on their academic lessons. These quick brain pauses peppered throughout the day aren’t … [Read more...] about Take 5: Brain Breaks Help with Focus at Any Age