Stepping into the void are school parents who said they increasingly use their children’s summer break for day trips to local attractions designed to both entertain and inform their young minds.
“We definitely took our kids on vacations and excursions and tried to immerse our kids into whatever culture and area we were visiting,” said Lakota school parent and volunteer Kathy Cook.
“It is the duty of parents to offset educational experiences outside of the classroom. Even field trips, which I agree have been reduced, can’t truly give a child an experience like travel can. Heck, there are great local free day trips that parents can experience with their kids. I truly believe that experiences are what make a child ready for adulthood and have a world view,” said Cook.
University of Cincinnati School of Education Professor Victoria Carr agreed, saying “going to the zoo, nature center, children’s museums, etc. is very important for children.”
Frequency and having a learning theme helps children soak in knowledge, advised Carr, who is also executive director of the Arlitt Center for Education, Research.
“For those who have opportunities to engage in these types of experiences, repeated visits are more likely to deepen knowledge and understanding. So, for example, if you go to the zoo repeatedly, pick a focus each time and be a co-investigator with the children, for example let’s look at the animals eyes today or colors, or walk, etc.,” said Carr.
Area attractions cater to such family learning trips with digital and other offerings designed to add to the educational pay-off for kids.
Jennifer Tan, spokeswoman for the Newport Aquarium, one of the region’s popular day-trip destinations, said, “we have an app for educational exploration while guests visit and we teamed up with Cincinnati Bell for free Wi-Fi.”
“For many kids, this is there only opportunity to experience sharks, or to touch a stingray, or penguin, and by meeting these animals here, they develop an appreciation for the animals, and want to help the animals in the wild,” said Tan.
“They develop a lifetime of love and respect for the animals. Throughout their visit at Newport Aquarium, families will see signage, and information telling them about endangered or vanishing species, as well as water and conservation messages,” she said.
Cody Hefner, spokeswoman for the Cincinnati Museum Center, said “a museum visit or educational summer camp are great ways to prevent the brain drain of summer and keep young minds sharp and active.”
“The summer months are so important for a child’s education but it’s often difficult to convince a child who just spent nine months in school to continue pursuing their education,” said Hefner.
“That’s why educational institutions and experiences like museums are so valuable. They’re able to present information in ways that are engaging and interactive, allowing kids to self-select that pursuit of knowledge.”
Lakota parent and home schooler Lindsey Hilty said, “we have spent hours at the zoo, aquarium, Cincinnati Museum Center, Entertrainment Junction, Dayton’s Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Sharonville’s Highfield Discover Garden, the Dayton Airforce museum and more. We have gone to (West Chester Township) Touch a Truck events, library enrichment opportunities, local parks and plenty of fine arts presentations.”
Hilty said, “they were learning plenty of academics in school, but it is so valuable to learn things first-hand.”
About the Author