June 8, 2017
By Dr. Bill Hudson, Mounds Park Academy Head of School
Summer was made for students. That might sound counterintuitive for the head of an independent PreK–12 school to say, but please hear me out.
Consider the words that best describe the students who call MPA home: freethinkers, free spirits, risk takers, right makers. Dreamers and doers. Throughout the school year, we promote these qualities across our academic and extracurricular activities. We create days that are filled with wonder so that students emerge from each year even more joyful, confident, and creative than they were in the fall.
Then summer comes. Extra time, a slower pace, and beautiful weather, all set the perfect stage for MPA students, and all children, to continue developing those qualities on their own and with their families.
Here are some ideas from MPA teachers, and a few of my own, to encourage a joy-filled, learning-rich summer that will continue to nurture the dreamer and doer in all of us:
- Do a variety of things every day. “My children stay engaged through doing a variety of things every day, then discussing them over dinner with family. They leave the house, spend time alone and together, read books, do something creative (draw, build, craft), and complete chores every day. Part of the ‘being alone’ and ‘leaving the house’ time is designed so that they have unstructured time that is open for their own whims.” – Sarah McFarland, MPA parent and International Program coordinator and faculty member
- Take a field trip. “For our family, summer is a time for involvement and action. We do a little bit of everything—that’s the spice of life! In particular, we like zoo visits, library visits, museums, baseball games, special events such as the Wings of the North air show, and family trips. There is so much to be said for changing up the daily routine.” – Mitch Thomsen, Upper School faculty member
- Go outside and play. “My children have quite a bit of unstructured, non-screen time, which I think benefits children of all ages and adults alike. I often tell my kids to ‘go play,’ and they invent elaborate games and build things out of found materials. There is much research that outlines the benefits of getting kids into the wilderness.” – Courtney Nagle, Middle School faculty member
Build upon a favorite book or project from the year. Every child has a favorite book or project that sparked their imagination and engrossed them. MPA students likely have more than one! Have your child create a play based on a favorite book and record it or imagine an alternative ending and rewrite it. Perhaps your child could recreate a beloved project with a different subject or find a way to expand it. You could also check local theaters or museum exhibits to see if themes from the book or project are being featured. Make sure this is driven by student interest and enthusiasm!- Select a topic of interest to explore. I love learning new things, and I enjoy exploring them
from different angles. It is fitting that I lead a school that promotes interdisciplinary teaching and learning. Ask your children what they might like to learn more about over the summer, or pick something as a family, and then find ways to engage in that subject together. Examine local exhibits for ideas. For example, the Minnesota Zoo has a kangaroo exhibit this summer, which could spark an Australian theme. You could track the weather there, cook a typical Australian dish, celebrate the Queen’s birthday on June 12, and more. - Break out the board games. Spend a summer evening outside playing board games with your children. Moving the ordinary outdoors can often make it extraordinary. Games teach so many important life skills—winning, losing, playing fairly, and taking turns—as well as skills like strategic thinking and problem solving. We believe it’s essential that children continue to build these skills over the summer months.
- Read outdoors. Is there anything better than reading in a hammock? The gentle rocking, the blue sky peeking through the trees, perhaps a lake alongside you … it is Minnesota, after all. Show your child the beauty of reading by joining them under a tree, or on a beach, or on a dock. Promoting a love of reading, and the habit of reading, is one of the most important things that you can do for your child.
The ideas above touch on time spent outside of organized camps or summer programs that we know are important for many busy families today. We recognize families may prefer or require more structure in their lives given work and family obligations. In which case, we invite you to check out Panther Camp, which offers weekly programming themes that allow students to explore science, nature, sports, arts, and much more. Panther Camp is available June 12–16 and July 5–August 11, 2017, and you can register for daily, half-day, and weekly options a week in advance. To learn more, go to moundsparkacademy.org/summer.
A couple of times over the years, I have come to Back to School Night with summer regret. I’ve looked back on the time and realized that I didn’t use it to its fullest potential. With this list of ideas in hand, I am confident that we will all emerge from the summer more engaged with each other and ourselves than we are today.
