Summer vacation is off and running beginning tomorrow. But remember, learning takes place for kids all year long. It isn’t confined to time in school. Make sure that you think about ways to help your child learn new things and keep what they have learned during the school year. You can help your children learn and have fun, too.

1. Make sure you have plenty of books around. You can pick up books at Goodwill or even from a friend whose child has outgrown ones that should be just right for your child. After you have the books, be sure to read them. Read some with your child no matter her age. It is fun to see how she has progressed and many times she is reading something very interesting.

2. Make regular trips to the library. Most libraries schedule special summer events for kids. Make a visit now and find out what might be happening that your child would enjoy. Be sure she is signed up so she can check out books.

3. Check the local newspaper to see what activities are in town. There are some special theater productions for children being planned now. Maybe your child should try out or at the least, maybe she should go to watch what others are putting on.

4. Visit local museums. We have some special ones. A trip to Neah Bay will take you to one of the most interesting museums from the point of view of the Native Americans. This is a trip you really need to make if you haven’t been there already. There is something for all ages.

5. Have you checked out what has taken place on the Elwha River? This area has the largest dam ever removed and it is well worth seeing and talking with your child about what took place. If you can’t go to see it, have your child read about it on the computer.

6. Don’t forget math. Kids lose more math skills than anything else over the summer. So plan some fun games related to math. Have timing quizzes for knowing math facts. Give prizes for learning math facts or at least give some kind of reward. Be sure to check out the Internet which has math games at all levels.

7. Find a list of the 100 most frequently used words from the computer and make sure your child knows how to spell them. If she misses some, make a game or give a reward when she can spell them all correctly.

8. Teach your child how to type on the keyboard. This one skill will help her use her computer far more effectively.

9. Have your child write about a trip you take. The trip can be the museum, the Olympic Park or Grandma’s. You need to see how her writing skills are holding up in the beautiful summer weather. You also can have her write about something she has read such as an article or a book.

10. Check out on the computer how to teach science at your child’s level. These can be fun things for a child to do but she may not even know about ways to find them. Actually, there are sites for math games, science games and reading games. Some of these are free for 30 days but that is most of the summer, so check it out.

If you are unable to encourage the learning because of working, talk with your child care provider about learning. It doesn’t take a certificated teacher to teach. We all can teach if we just try to put ourselves in the child’s shoes so we can make learning fun. If you put some effort into it ahead of time, you can provide her with some learning ideas.

Learning is everywhere. You might be surprised how much you learn this summer as you try to encourage your child to learn.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.