Studies show that without stimulation, children can lose up to 60% of what they learned during the school year. Primrose suggests the key to overcoming summertime boredom and the "brain drain" effect is to encourage imaginative play and have a plan in place to keep children engaged during the
summer months. It's a great time to encourage children to let their imaginations soar and to give them time for less structured activities.

"It’s important to keep children's minds active during the summer, but it doesn’t take an expensive activity or big vacation to capture their attention," said Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose. "After all, imagination is free."

Here are just a few ideas parents can use to keep their preschooler busy:

• Beat the Boredom Jar: Sit down with your family and come up with a creative list of activities your kids can do solo or in a group. Let them get involved by offering their own ideas and giving ideas on how they want to decorate the jar. They’ll feel more involved in the project and more likely to think this is a "neat" idea, if they participate in the creation and idea generation. Throw all the ideas in the jar and next time anyone in the family is lacking a play idea, they can find a few in the boredom jar.
• Art Treasure Chest: You’ll need to gather basic art supplies -- child-safe scissors, glue, markers, tape, and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines, and bits of aluminum foil. Add a few surprises every now and then to keep them excited about the project. They’ll probably have some good ideas of other household items that can be recycled to fuel their creative energies.
• Family Performances: Break out old clothes or costumes and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out. They are the directors, actors, and producers. They can also make musical instruments out of pots/pans, wooden spoons, empty canisters and have a parade; or everyone can play along to your family’s favorite songs.
• Fort Building: Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers. Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours. All the items you need can be found around the house-some chairs, cushions, blankets.
• Cookbook Fun: Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children? Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try. Measuring can be a fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh. You can also use this as a fun way to teach your children healthy eating tips.
• Scavenger Hunt: Probably the simplest idea, yet the most fun! Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list. Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition.

  Ultimately, we know every child is different, with different interests and learning styles, so having a variety of ideas is a great way to be prepared during the summer months. Involving children in the planning of ideas gives them an opportunity to express their individuality and creativity.

  So with these tips in mind, sit down with your family and make a plan for an engaging, imaginative and fun summer.

  Note from Mikki: My kids and I created a creative 'boredom jar' awhile ago, and some of these ideas are great even as our creative kids get older. My kids are 12 and 7 now, and they still love art and building projects, occasional cooking and, in our case, we do Treasure Hunts around the house for special times.

  What ideas to you have to offer?