A Summer Smorgasbord for the Senses.

My family is busier than ever this summer. We have a calendar jam-packed with events. This is the first summer break that my son has (he completed kindergarten this year), so I decided to pack as much adventure and learning into the summer as I could. We are doing the traditional summer activities (swimming, camping, running through the sprinklers, going to a baseball game, etc.). But, we also have filled the calendar with opportunities for our children to experience new and different things. Thankfully, we live in a region that has a plethora of free events. So, we have been able to go to art museums, science museums, symphony concerts, plays, and ballets for free. We have found many other low-cost forms of entertainment. Here are some of the things I have discovered during our summer smorgasbord for the senses.

            Kids are willing to try almost anything. I really didn’t think I would get much buy-in when I announced to my son that we would be going to his sister’s dance recital. I was surprised when he enjoyed it, and begged to go back after the intermission to watch the remainder of the show. My daughter surprised me when she enjoyed our trip to the state railroad museum. I think she could have sat in the caboose all day long. My children are five-years-old and three-years-old, so I did not expect a lot from them. But, I have been pleasantly surprised with their willingness to try some new things. Yes, there have been times when they have objected to going to events. But, in general, they have made the most of their time once we get to the events.

            But, don’t push them beyond what they can handle. There are times when I know that we have a limited time to experience events. I was pleased that my kids sat through twenty minutes of the symphony concert, but I know I couldn’t push them to do thirty minutes. Our visits to museums have seemed like whirlwind journeys, where we leave the museum behind in the flurry of our running through its halls. When we went to the art museum, I was able to ask my kids some very basic questions about some paintings, but I knew that I couldn’t push too much (and it certainly wasn’t time for a lecture on art history and different art movements). So, we are learning over the summer months, but not doing too much. Summer, after all, should afford a child opportunity to rest from study and have fun.

            Find some new things to learn in the old-tried-and-true. Yes, we went to the zoo. And, we also talked about why some animals are predatory and some are not (a topic that fascinates my son). When we go camping soon, we probably will look at the stars, and have an opportunity to talk about the planets, and maybe mention how historically people used the stars for direction. The yearly vegetable garden has given me an opportunity to talk about our senses and talk about how our bodies become healthy with good foods. At this stage in their lives, my kids are wildly inquisitive, so I seek opportunities to have small teaching moments as they ask question and wonder.

            I am learning much through these experiences, too. I don’t know much about dance, or symphonic music. Modern art seems pointless to me. I was at a loss for words while trying to describe a mirage to my son. How do you tell a five-year-old that his eyes are deceiving him? And how do you explain that there is a reason why his eyes are deceiving him with a mirage? We have attended many events that are not “my thing.” During these times, I am learning too, and finding a greater appreciation for stuff that isn’t “my thing.” Since I take the time to try to engage the kids in these events, I have had to learn a little about dance, art, symphonic music, trains, and other things. That has been good for me.

            We have many opportunities to show kids the creative power of God. Why did God create so many varieties of animals? Why are some plants helpful to humans and some dangerous? How many stars are there? Why is the universe so vast and different? Why are there so many varieties of wood, flowers, fauna, fish, etc.? Why are our bodies designed in such an intricate way? How can someone be so creative in an art form like watercolor painting, or tap dancing, or playing the French horn? Is it alright to marvel at an athlete’s physical prowess? As we have experienced such variety over the course of this summer, it has given us ample opportunities to talk about the creative wonders of God. My kids have a fuller appreciation for how wonderful His creation is and how amazing His creative powers are. This has been the most enjoyable part of our summer for me. I have had the joy of watching my children marvel in the majesty of God and learn about the variety of His creation.

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