Fun educational summer activities for teens

The summer break is finally here, meaning for most teens, late nights, long lie ins and lots of time spent with friends. This often means homework and learning is the last thing on their mind. Here at Tutor Doctor we know how important it is for your teenage son or daughter to stay engaged in their education and keep their brains active and inspired.  That’s why we’ve come up with some fun educational activities that teens can enjoy this summer. Even though it may take a bit of persuasion to get them on board, we guarantee they will have fun and even learn a thing or two!

Read!
Get your teens to read, read and read some more! Reading is one of the most beneficial and enjoyable activities anyone (especially teens) can do over the long summer break. Remember the hardest part for most teenagers is actually picking up a book and reading it- once they do the rest will probably be history! To make reading a little more interesting, it’s super important for them to be excited about it. Start by taking a trip to your local bookshop or library and allow them to pick out 5 or 6 books that they really want to read over the break. You could then set them the challenge of reading one book a week and see how they get on. Reading is a fantastic way to combat summer learning loss and engage their imaginations! For our list of recommended books for teens to read over the summer check out our blog post here.

Research careers
Careers can be a scary word for teenagers, however a great use of a rainy afternoon would be for them to start researching what jobs are out there and what area they may be interested in pursuing. Remember this doesn’t have to be boring- we don’t want long lists of jobs and salaries- really encourage your teen to think about their dream career and get them to research how they can make it happen. Do they need to study something specific in college or university? Do they need to complete work placements? Is there anything they can actively be doing this summer to kick-start their career interest? All these questions are sure to spark an interest as the future is an exciting prospect!
Don’t forget this doesn’t have to be a computer based project either- why not chat with your teen about what excites them, where they picture themselves in 5-10 years time, where they want to live, do they want to travel? If they’re not sure a great way to start is with a big mind map of all the things they want to achieve, their hope and dreams and what interests them.

Pursue their passions
Encouraging your teens to pursue their passions is not only going to be loads of fun but educational too. Remember plenty of opportunities, the right materials and lots of encouragement really is the key! Here are a few ideas that you could suggest!

• Your teen.. is sporty

If your teen is sporty, then the summer is the ideal time for them to fully embrace it! Find local sports clubs that they can join- some may even offer special summer programmes that would be perfect for a sport crazy teenager! If joining a club isn’t for them ensuring that they have other opportunities is important. If you have a big garden, you could invest in some equipment like a basketball hoop or football nets. Alternatively, why not visit the park as a family and play a game of rounders or you could even spend the day at a trampoline park?

• Your teen.. enjoys being creative

Does your teen enjoy photography, writing or being artistic? If so, there are loads of ways that they can ignite their passion over the holidays. Why not get them to start an online blog where they can practice their writing and photography skills on a regular basis? If a blog isn’t for them, another suggestion might be for them to create a summer scrapbook journal with their own photographs and words. For all those budding artists, undertaking a bigger project is bound to be an exciting prospect. A brilliant idea would be for them to create a large piece of artwork for the house or their bedroom.

• Your teen..loves helping out in the kitchen

If your teen is particularly passionate about food and cooking, then why not spend some time with them in the kitchen? A great activity to get involved in would be for them to choose and write out a simple three-course menu for a family dinner. With close supervision, get your son or daughter to plan and measure out, cook and serve the menu- just like a mini restaurant! If baking is something they are more interested in, then get them to flick through a recipe book and choose a couple of bakes they would like to make. To really go the extra mile, you could even sell the yummy creations and donate the earnings to a good cause.

Research Universities
If your teen is already in 6^th form it’s likely they will at some point have had a quick look into university. However, it’s not unheard of for students to make drastic decisions when it comes to choosing a university or deciding whether or not they want to go. A great use of some spare time over the holidays is for them to get researching! Encourage them to order brochures, look at which course is going to suit them best, where they want to go and maybe even if university is the right choice for them. If your teen has a few places in mind, then attending a few open days will give them a bit more of an idea of what to expect. We promise that this research will be fun, eye opening and a very productive use of time!

4 tips to help improve your child’s handwriting skills

Learning to write is one of the very first things most children learn how to do at school. However, it certainly isn’t easy and takes lots of practice and persistence. If you notice your child struggling with their handwriting or having difficulty when they first start learning to write, it’s important that it isn’t ignored.  Here at Tutor Doctor we know that neat, clear and consistent handwriting doesn’t always come easily to a lot of kids. That’s why we’ve come up with 4 tips to help improve your child’s handwriting skills- and all in the comfort of your own home!

1. Find the problem
The easiest way to start helping your child improve their handwriting skills is by firstly identifying the problem.  Look for areas where they are having the most trouble and see if you can find a solution.  Here are some common areas that some children struggle with when it comes to handwriting.

• Forming letters
  If your child is having issues with letter formation, get them to practice using tracing paper until they feel more confident with the techniques involved.
• Letter Size/lining words on the page
  Lined paper will be an excellent aid if your child is sizing their letters incorrectly or finds it tricky to line words on the page.
• Spacing between words
  If you’re finding that your child is writing their letters too close together make sure you encourage them to use finger spacing between each word when doing writing practice.
• Holding the pen/pencil incorrectly
  Are your children having trouble with how they hold their writing tool? If so, make sure you show them how to hold their pen/pencil correctly- with their thumb, index and middle fingers.
• Pressing too hard
  Does your child press too hard when they are doing their homework? Pressing too hard on the paper can make letter formation tricky- a relaxed grip is much easier for the hand to move and for them to write neatly and accurately.

Whatever the issue, there is always a solution! Remember practice, practice and practice some more!

2. Take it slow!
Children sometimes rush writing meaning they aren’t practicing their techniques properly or taking the time they should be. It’s important to encourage your child to take their time when writing letters and numbers. If you really want to show them how, why not sit down with them and practice writing a letter together?

3. Have the right tools
If you want your child to be able to practice writing it’s vital that they have the right tools to hand! Here are a few items that will help them not only practice but improve their handwriting skills.

• Pens and pencils
  Pens and pencil are perhaps the most important tool your kids will need to have if they want to practice their handwriting. Remember it’s also good to have a mixture of both. Pencils are easy to rub out so are perfect for practicing, whereas pens are more permanent, so are great for write ups or final practice.
• Mini white board
  White boards are brilliant as they will let your child repeatedly practice writing letters, number and words.
• Lined notebooks and plain paper
  Lined notebooks are an excellent tool for your child to practice sentences, copying passages of text or writing freely. It will also help them stay within the lines, give them an idea on how to space correctly as well as encourage writing in a straight line. Plain paper on the other hand is better for practicing letters and writing out words. You could even show your child how it’s done by writing out a word/letter they are particularly struggling with and ask them to try the way you showed them underneath.
• Tracing paper and alphabet book
  An alphabet book and tracing paper makes it really easy for your child to practice their handwriting skills but also gives them a visual reference on how each letter is constructed.
• Erasers
  Whether it’s a white board eraser or a rubber, it’s important that kids feel like they can correct their mistakes!
• Fun accessories
  Finally make handwriting as fun as it can possibly be. Buying bright and colourful rubbers, pencils, notebooks and pens is bound to brighten up an afternoon of writing practice!

4. Be positive and encouraging!
It’s okay if your child struggles with writing certain letters or isn’t grasping neat handwriting straight away. Positive encouragement is not only going to help your child achieve their goals but also make them feel more confident in their abilities. Remember to tell them ‘well done’ when they’ve done a great job or even if they have done a few hours of practice. Let’s face it- learning to write or practicing handwriting skills is by no means an easy task and takes lots of time and patience. Positivity is sure to go a long way!

7 easy ways to get your children to eat fruit and veggies

   

It’s certainly not uncommon for children to avoid eating fruit and veggies, often favouring unhealthy snacks such as crisps, chocolate and ice-cream. Fruit and vegetables are great sources of healthy vitamins and minerals, meaning they are an important part of any child’s diet. Here at Tutor Doctor, we know how difficult it can be to encourage kids to eat something they ‘don’t like.’ That’s why we’ve come up with 7 easy ways to encourage good eating habits and get your children enjoying their 5-a-day. Before you know it they might even be asking for a plate of carrots for dinner!

1.Get the kids cooking
There really is no better way to get your kids eating fruit and veggies than by getting them involved in the cooking. Start by asking them to wash and dry the fruit and vegetables and you could even explain exactly how you are going to cook them. As they will have been involved in the preparation and cooking process, they are much more likely to eat the final dish and perhaps even try something new.

2.Grow a fruit and vegetable patch
Kids are far more likely to eat their fruit and vegetables if they have been grown in their very own garden. Start by choosing some simple produce to grow such as tomatoes, carrots and strawberries. You can then get your children to plant the seeds, water them, help take out the weeds and dig them up when they are ready to be eaten. Getting your kids involved in growing their own fresh fruit and vegetables will not only make them feel more connected to it but it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll try produce they wouldn’t have usually. If you find that your kids are really enjoying growing their own, make sure you introduce new vegetables into your patch as well as keep on planting favourites.

3.Be Persistent
Many kids don’t always take to new foods and flavours straight away, and recent studies have even shown that it can take up to twenty times before a child can truly tell whether they like or dislike something. Make sure you are offering your child a small portion of fruit or vegetables on a regular basis. It is likely that after a while, they will become accustomed to seeing them on their plate and may feel like they are ready to take a bite. Even if you don’t think you’re getting anywhere, trust us- persistence is the key, so stick with it!

4.Set a good example
A really easy way to encourage your kids to eat fruit and veggies is to set a good example. Make sure that you are eating well and actively mention how much you enjoy your 5-a-day. If you are constantly on a diet or have erratic eating habits, your child may grow up to see this type of behavior as normal, which isn’t a healthy. Remember everything in moderation!

5.Allow treats and rewards
It’s important for your children to have balance when it comes to food. Allowing unhealthy foods occasionally not only keeps them from becoming forbidden (which usually ends up making them more appealing) but it also helps your children see them as a treat. Rewarding great eating habits with positive praise and the occasional treat is also a fantastic way to encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables. For example, if your child eats their 5-a-day, they are allowed to enjoy an ice-cream at the weekend.

6.Make it Fun
Kids love nothing more than fun and cool looking food. This means they are much more likely to eat fruit and veggies if they are positioned as a pattern on their plate, are chopped up into a funky shape or if they have a fun name. For example, why not call broccoli ‘dinosaur food’ or carrots ‘night vision sticks’? You could even use cookie cutters to turn things like apples or potatoes into stars or hearts. For more inspiration on how you can make food fun, head over to Pinterest- there’s load of ideas to choose from!

7.Be positive!
Positive encouragement really does go a long way! If your child has made an extra effort to try a new vegetable or eat a fruit they don’t like so much, make sure you recognise their effort and let them know they have done a good job. It’s also important to create a positive atmosphere around your dinner table and never nag at your kids to finish something. This can only make them resist more and you certainly don’t want to make eating fruit and vegetables a negative experience! Your positive attitude will certainly affect your child in a positive manner, so keep it up!