SUMMER LEARNING, PART TWO: As previously mentioned, summer learning for preschoolers is important, especially the focus on repetition and routine. Below are tips to include these as part of your child’s daily summer fun.

REPETITION

— Provide multiple opportunities to learn

Repeated positive exchanges during everyday routines can help children develop the foundational skills needed for future healthy relationships with peers, caregivers and other adults.

For example, hearing a caregiver use a word repeatedly or having many opportunities to crawl toward a favorite toy or person helps children learn new skills or master ones they have learned.

ROUTINES

— Share what to expect during daily routines and activities

Sharing what to expect provides children with learning opportunities and prepares them to positively engage and experience these activities. For example, when taking a preschooler to story time at the library, say, “We are going to the library to listen to a story. We will sit with all the other children and their parents and use our listening ears and quiet voices. Can you show me what that looks like?”

With positive and nurturing relationships, opportunities for positive repetition, and predictable routines, caregivers can encourage young children’s social and emotional development and set them up for success in school and beyond.

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TODAY: Today is Flag Day. The current American Flag design is the only one to have made it more than 50 years. There have been 27 versions of the flag, with the colors carefully chosen to represent values: red represents hardiness and valor, white represents purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.