April/May 2008

S.M.A.R.T. Summer Parent Letter

Help keep those stimulated brains S.M.A.R.T. this summer!

Here’s a sample letter to parents with ideas for them to do just that! Since your students understand the many ways they have gotten S.M.A.R.T. this school year, review the ideas in the letter first with them. They can help their parents understand why and how to do some of the activities. Add your own ideas or revise in any way to best fit your children and community!
If you want to send this to your parents (click here) for a PDF version.

Dear Parents,

Do you want your child to have a S.M.A.R.T. Summer??

Your child has been S.M.A.R.T. every day this year, in part from our multi-sensory approach to learning. With summer coming, we thought your child and you might want to know some activities that are easily done and help keep the brain and body stimulated and developing in a S.M.A.R.T. way.

Spinning
       by self inside or out                                            spinning rides
       merry-go-rounds                                                cartwheels
       twist chains on swings and unwind                        spinning boards or sit & spins

Rolling (close eyes for increased brain/body stimulation)
       down grassy hills                                                races in the yard
       somersaults                                               

Park or Playground
       swings, slides, hanging bars (even upside down), and monkey bars are excellent!

Balance Beam substitutes (always walk heel-toe, challenging with eyes closed and/or backwards)
       curbs                           low walls                        extension cords
       sidewalk cracks            ropes                             balance boards
       logs                             the hose                         stilts
           
Jumping and Hopping
       hop scotch                     jump rope                        jumping over things
       rebounder                     Chinese jump rope            jumping off of things
       pogo sticks                    bi-lateral jumping jacks
       skipping                        pretending to be different animals that jump/hop         

Eye-Hand Coordination
       baseball                        ping-pong                       beading
       tennis                           tetherball                        darts
       badminton                     bean bag games             catch & throw games
       board games galore       jacks                              tap balloons in air

Add your own ideas. Shop at garage sales for fun and cheap games and equipment. Encourage MUCH MOVEMENT over the summer - try to limit TV and computer time and opt for fun summer activities instead. Keep your kids’ brains and bodies engaged whenever possible!!