|
 |
||
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
||
|
Tip
Sheet: Culture & Living Tip sheets highlight timely news and events at Washington University in St. Louis. For more information on any of the stories below or for assistance in arranging interviews, please see the contact information listed with each story. For comments on the Culture & Living news tips service, please contact the editor, Sue Killenberg McGinn at (314) 935-5254 or susan_killenberg_mcginn@aismail.wustl.edu. Field trips can help keep your child's mind actively engaged while on winter break Media assistance: Neil Schoenherr - (314) 935-5235 Source: Donna M. Gardner's Web site - (314) 935-6791 dmgardne@artsci.wustl.edu [St. Louis, Mo., November 2002] - After a long semester of studying, doing homework and taking tests, many children like to spend their holiday break sleeping in, watching television or playing on their computers. And while it's good for children to relax and take it easy, having a few weeks of down time doesn't necessarily mean kids can't learn something in the process, says Donna M. Gardner, Ph.D., adjunct assistant professor of education in Arts & Sciences and teacher certification coordinator at Washington University in St. Louis. Gardner suggests that taking your children on an educational field trip or two during their long winter break might be the perfect solution.
According to Gardner, there are countless educational field trips for children during the holiday break, many of which are free. "There are so many great cultural resources for people to take advantage of -- the parks system, the zoo and museums to name just a few. They cost little to nothing, often have special holiday programs, and can help students stay in the learning mode while they take time off from the classroom." The key for parents, Gardner stresses, is to think broadly about what their children are interested in and then come up with some creative ways to explore that interest. "If your child likes airplanes, take them to the airport," she says. "Let them watch the planes take off and land. Try to show an interest in the things they are excited about. That can really encourage them to learn and grow."
Also, try taking your children places where you can "sneak learning in," Gardner says. "Science centers are wonderful for this. The science center usually has a computer room and lots of hands-on, engaging activities for kids. They can go there and play and not even realize they are learning something, when in fact they are." Gardner suggests using the Internet, libraries, the local visitor's center or the public parks system to locate fun and educational field trips during the holiday break. "The library can be a wonderful place to start," she says. "Librarians are always eager to help and many libraries offer wonderful holiday-themed programs for smaller children." Encourage pleasure reading And while it may not be a physical field trip, Gardner says encouraging your children to do some pleasure reading while they are on break is a great way to keep them learning. "If you can encourage them to read, that's spectacular," Gardner says. "A gift of a book is a wonderful idea for children when they are out of school. Try to buy a book that engages their interest but is not insulting to their intelligence. It should be at their level and on a topic they are interested in." And if that happens to be a magazine, so be it. "Reading a magazine is better than reading nothing," she says. |
|
News & Information Home | Office of Public Affairs | WUSTL Home
Please contact us and let us know how we can assist you. Technical problems with this Web site? Please contact news_bugs@aismail.wustl.edu. Please review the WUSTL News & Information copyright/privacy policy.
|