Reclaiming the Joys of Summer: A Message for Parents
Summer break has always held a special magic for families. It’s a cherished season of slower rhythms, spontaneous adventures, and simple joys. It once offered a welcome pause from busy schedules, classroom work, and extracurricular activities – a hurriedness that is all too common for so many of us with school aged children. Yet somewhere along the way, this season of slowness gave way to a new kind of business. A tightly packed summer filled with camps, sports training, tutoring, and at-home workbooks all in the name of giving our children a leg-up on the next school year, a notion often fueled by tales of the “summer learning slide” that prevents many families from taking a break together.
While these activities can be valuable, and necessary for families with inflexible work schedules, it is important not to overlook what so many parents already know: play in itself is actually learning, and some of the most meaningful educational experiences take shape in the moments when our children are given the space and freedom to simply be.
Many experiences that have long formed the memories of a classic American summer provide not only academic value but also build curiosity, problem-solving, and connection. And these special moments are often available simply by slowing down with our families. Invite your little ones in the kitchen with you, pick fresh fruit from a local farm, splash in a nearby creek, assign a few extra chores, and stay up until twilight to chase fireflies.
This summer, we invite you to take a break. Whether your summer is fully unstructured or thoughtfully balanced with scheduled activities, take this season to embrace moments of wonder, real-world experiences, and open-ended play.
As you think about what a summer of curiosity and slowness may look like in your home, you may also want to add a few special toys or games to your collection. These items can spark big adventures while expanding our children’s minds. And prioritizing hand-crafted, wooden toys means they’ll easily transition from this season to many more in the future.
Our Favorite Summer Toys
Small World Sets
Small world play allows little ones to explore the world around them. Dollhouses, trucks, farm toy sets, and small figures can be mixed with natural materials like stones, flowers, or sand to create miniature environments. Children can act out scenes from their imagination or expand on experiences you’ve shared as a family, like a visit to a farm or traveling for a special vacation. This provides a creative space for little ones to explore ideas and build storytelling skills, both of which are directly connected to reading and comprehension development.
Engineering Toys
Open-ended toys like our marble rollers, wooden blocks, and marble machine are classic problem-solving and critical thinking playsets. Kiddos can explore endless “what if” scenarios as they put scientific thinking to work. Not to mention all the fun budding engineers will have from plinking, crashing, building, and racing.
Classic Games
Classic games like checkers, mancala, and aggravation help children build logical thinking, strategy, patience, and focus. Allow siblings to play together without parent oversight and they’ll also develop teamwork and a sense of grace – for winning or losing.
Caregiving Play
Toys like play kitchens and dolls give children space to nurture and develop empathy. Some children may use this time to mimic the routines they see within your home or roleplay scenarios that are new to them like navigating friendships or disagreements between siblings. Mix in real world items like pots, wooden spoons, or even a tasty snack to further expand the experience.
As you enjoy the summer season, we hope your family – parents included – share a spirit of wonder, find joy in your connections, and embrace the beautify of simplicity. Here’s to a summer of learning through play!
