We all know the last day of school arrives with shouts, cheers and a feeling of freedom. No more getting up early, no more homework and plenty of time to eat breakfast and play with friends. While many children are involved with all sorts of summer activities, from baseball to swimming to theater, the season still offers a sense of freedom and the chance to enjoy life.

Despite that sweet promise of liberation, we parents want to make sure the learning doesn’t end with the school bell. Many themed summer camp programs that tie into any interest, from sports to science to animals and more, can fill some time, but what about those downtimes at home? It’s important to keep children of all ages prospering and thriving during the summer months.

Begin by making learning a family fun experience. Read to your children and read with them. Local libraries have age appropriate reading lists as well as fun reading competitions that reward kiddos for reading over the summer. Your child’s teacher may have shared reading lists.

If you think about it, your grocery store is a math lesson in itself. Have your children help make out a list. Then add approximate prices for such items as milk, bread and eggs. Add these together, then after your shopping trip, see how far off you were! When going on drives, ask your kids to look for certain shapes, colors, letters or words on billboards and signs.

Although online educational programs are great, try turning off the TV, computer and video games or set limits for screen time. My daughter sets a timer for my 3- and 5-year-old grandsons so they know when it’s time to get up and move, look out the window or go outside and swing on the swing set.

Scavenger hunts are a fun idea to play with neighborhood friends. Involve your children in every step. List how many items you want to find, for example, a beach ball, a pinecone, a leaf and a golf ball. Decide whether you want to knock on doors of trusted neighbors who would enjoy the fun. Count out how many items are found and talk about each one then award prizes. The dollar store is a great resource for these, with fun hats, sidewalk chalk, beach balls and more.

Cooking together may seem mundane, but this can be a nutrition and math activity. Place all the ingredients for your child’s favorite dish out on the counter, then have him measure out how much water or milk goes into the dish. Show him the measuring cup and decide what half of a half-cup is and so on.

Other hands-on ideas to make sure learning loss doesn’t happen during the summer months can be to catch fireflies. Read a book about them, then find an empty jar and go hunting in the nighttime. Learn what fireflies eat, where they live and why they light up. Wow, you’ve just completed a science project!

When you are planting your vegetable garden or flowers, involve your kids. Gardening not only keeps kids physically active but also gives them responsibility. Discuss how plants produce food for us to eat as well as what the life cycle is of vegetables from seed to food. As you dig, observe worms and other tiny critters and explore how they help the plants grow and thrive. An added bonus is that when children help grow their vegetables, the chances of their munching on them are much better!

Kites are another fun activity on windy days. Make your own kite €¦you can find instructions online. Then discuss how the wind keeps the kite in the air. Discuss what direction it will fly and how high it can go! You’re teaching your child about physical science and meteorology.

For a foray into geology and art, gather your own rock collection as you take walks. Discuss the textures, colors and shapes. Painting rocks is a great way to keep your kiddos interested. Then, display the rocks so your family can see.

One of the best parts of summer is eating outside! Whether you are simply eating at the picnic table in your yard or visiting the lake or beach, have your children help pack the picnic lunch and consider what will be best to eat outside. Discuss how our bodies need energy to move and play and think and that muscles grow healthier with fruits and vegetables.

Consider creating a list of activities you hope to do during the summer. Cut the list into strips and place them in a box or jar. Make an event of picking an activity. Ideas may include the following: Spend the day at the zoo, visit the nursing home to read to residents, create a chalk drawing on the driveway and make homemade milkshakes. Involve your kids. There are no bad ideas! Then at the end of the summer, look back at all you did.

With a little time, planning and creativity, you can play a valuable part in making sure summertime fun keeps your children’s minds sharp and enriches their health and well-being.

More local ideas:

• Culinary Center of Kansas City can help you learn to cook or learn to be a better cook. As the tag line goes, “Magic happens in the kitchen.” Find an extensive list of magic-making classes online at KCCulinary.com.
• Olathe’s Ernie Miller Nature Center gives kids a chance to learn, understand and admire nature. They offer cultural, historical and environmental programs and other activities. JCPRD.com
• Missouri Town Living History Museum in Lee’s Summit demonstrates a progressive mid-1800s farming community. Explore buildings showcasing living history with original structures, furnishings and equipment as well as authentic field and garden crops and rare livestock breeds. MakeYourDayHere.com
• If you have animal-lovers, visit Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, Missouri. Teens are able to volunteer (solo or with a parent, depending on age), or your family could apply to become part of the pet foster care program. WaysideWaifs.org
• Kaleidoscope is another local favorite, free and full of endless creativity. HallmarkKaleidoscope.com
• YaYa’s Alpaca Farm in Garden City, Missouri, is a fun excursion, offering tours year-round. YayasAlpacaFarm.com

Sources: Utopia.org, SanfordHealth.org

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.