Summer Lessons Near and Far

A family of four, two adults and two children, are sitting on a couch and looking to the side.

Summer Lessons Near and Far

Movie Time

Near: Lessons Children (and Adults) Can Learn from Movies

Childhood movies do more than entertain us – they provide us with important life lessons that we can share with our children. They also help teach new skills in ways that will not have our children thinking they are doing “chores.”

Our goal here was to find movies that could help us use this summer to teach valuable skills and lessons to our children.

Encouraging Speech & Creating Yum! “Cheesy” Cauliflower Popcorn

Household Chores:

Children can learn to put away their toys at a young age. As they age, they can be given new chores based on their ability.

Snow White – She saw a mess and cleaned it up without being asked

Mary Poppins–Make clean up time a game

Cinderella– Sweeping, cleaning, sewing – all without complaining

The Incredibles – Always take care of your personal belongings

Responsibility:

Movies teach children that they are responsible not only for their actions but also for the world around them.

The Lion King –No matter how hard he tried, Simba had a responsibility to his Pride, and he stepped up to do what he knew he had to do

Babe –A little pig learns responsibility to do a big job even though he is small

Mulan –A young woman takes her father’s place in the army to uphold the family honor

Cleanliness:

Teaching cleanliness extends to both oneself and the world around us. You can combine part of this topic with chores – cleaning up after oneself.

Snow White – Teaching the importance of hand-washing before meals – an excellent lesson for COVID-19

Finding Nemo – The fish in the tank discuss the

• importance of keeping their surroundings clean

Shrek – Even Ogres need to take a shower and brush their teeth

Remember, the earlier you start, the easier it is for them to continue doing it.
Make learning lessons fun by singing songs, creating pictures of the lesson, and doing activities as a family that reinforce what you discussed.

While all the movies listed are only a sample, they all teach more than the one lesson listed here. You will find many opportunities to teach and reinforce vital actions and qualities in everything you watch.

Far: Safe Summer Traveling

Some people are ready to venture out and travel this summer. If you are one of those people, here are some tips for traveling safely. Whenever possible, include your child in planning, preparing travel kits, and picking out activities.

-If you are going to a different state or city, make sure to check their COVID safety requirements. Some places may still require quarantine upon arrival.

-Masks are still required AND recommended, even for people who have been vaccinated. There is still much that is unknown, and with variants and children being unvaccinated, it is best to err on the side of caution.

-Follow the social distancing guidelines of any place that you visit. Continue to use frequent hand-washing and sanitizing, especially for children who like to touch objects or put their hands to their mouths or faces.

-Consider taking out travel insurance this year, just in case something happens, and anyone gets sick on vacation. If you have to change plans and leave early, you will not lose all your money.

-Remember to boost your immune system before traveling. Get plenty of sleep, take your vitamin supplements, and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

-Schedule extra time for travel, especially if traveling by plane.

-The safest travel options for summer 2021 include outdoor vacations, the beach, camping, dining outdoors (keep mask on until food arrives), vacation rentals, and nature-filled activities. You can also look for spacious resorts that have a lot of outdoor space.

-It is still recommended at this time to limit family get-togethers to small groups. If you are in a hotel or resort, try to go to the pool during uncrowded times.

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This post originally appeared on our May/June 2021 Magazine