Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/996152
16 Hudson Valley Parent n July 2018 research it and find out as much as we can." Help your kids discover new things close to home with a nature scavenger hunt in the backyard. For a more substantial outdoor learning adventure, the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center in New Paltz offers a Kid's Corner created with exploring and learning in mind. Little ones unearth bones and feathers or play with games and puzzles before heading out to the Children's Forest (it has a stroller friendly paved path). Borrow a nature exploration kit to use while on the trail. If getting outdoors isn't your style there is plenty to learn, see and do at The Mid-Hudson Children's Museum in Poughkeepsie. It's one of our favorite places to visit for interactive sensory exhibits and science and math lessons. On the third Saturday of each month the museum hosts a family free admission night where families can enjoy three hours of interactive play together. Tweens travel back in time Take your tween or teen to some of the historical mansions in our area to learn what life was like before selfies and Snapchat. The Hudson Valley is steeped in a rich history from life as an early settler to the industrialist rise of the Golden Age. There will be plenty of opportunities to read and think critically during a tour at any one of these museums. This summer my family is ready to tour the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park. I think my children are old enough to appreciate the historical value, plus they are reading enthusiasts and really excited to read signs and plaques. Learning tools delivered right to your door If you are looking for low key options to take on the road or simple activities that do not require a lot of time, sign up for a monthly subscription box. All the learning materials you need will show up right at your door. Select from a different theme each month for tech free play. A couple of our favorites to subscribe to are Kiwi Crate and The Magic School Bus Science Club. And we can't wait to try out Girls Can! Crate this summer. Subscription boxes can be an extra monthly expense, but if you purchase only a three-month subscription that is enough to get you through the summer. Most parents don't encourage screen time during the summer months but subscribing to a learning website can be a fun way for kids to practice math skills. Plus, it's safe and educational time spent while on their tablets or laptops. Sites like Prodigy, AdaptedMind and IXL Math offer age appropriate math levels to practice and learn. My kids use these sites in the classroom, so it's a really great way to extend what they are already learning into the summer months. Stress free summer learning Keep learning stress free this summer. If kids feel less pressure to perform and to get things perfect they are more likely to participate. And don't sweat it if you can't fit in a ton of educational opportunities. Any amount of time spent learning isn't wasted. A simple board game night playing Scrabble or Boggle still counts as educational and it encourages spelling and builds vocabulary. Roxanne Ferber is a freelance writer and blogger living in Saugerties with her husband, 7-year-old twins and a crazy Lab pup named Roscoe. SUMMER LEARNING (Continued from Page 15)