Two Great Youth Resources

 Thanks to Kristie Hauer at WVLS' Youth Information Exchange for these two tips

Summer Learning Tips to Go! English/Spanish Text Messaging Service from Start With a Book

They write on their website:
"Sign up now for our 2024 summer learning tips, in English or Spanish. A fresh season of mobile tips is here! You'll receive three messages per week, featuring hands-on activities to keep kids reading, creating, exploring — and learning — all summer long! See examples of our summer tips below.

Text (855) 773-1019 toll-free with the words "READING' for tips in English and 'LECTURA' for tips in Spanish Messaging rates may apply.

Here are examples of the kinds of tips and activity ideas you'll receive though our text messaging service:
Alphabet city
On a walk together, look for the shapes of letters in the buildings all around you. More ideas: Builders and Buildings

Mapmaker
After reading a favorite book, have your child draw a map of the book's setting. More ideas: Map Making

Be a reading role model!
Make sure your kids see you reading and writing, whether it's reading the morning newspaper or making a shopping list. More ideas: Be a Reading Role Model

Nature scavenger hunt
Make a list of things to find outside (such as an acorn, stone, or feather). Give your child the list and let the hunt begin! More ideas: Outdoor Explorations"

Free Talk with Me Toolkits from the Smithsonian

"Talk with Me Toolkits provide caregivers chances to talk with their children to improve thinking, vocabulary, and language development. Talking with your child is great—and research shows that the quality of words children hear matters more than how much you talk. The Toolkits give caregivers ideas to begin conversations that are organized around a theme, and feature videos, photographs, paintings, and artworks along with questions to talk about with your child. At the end of each toolkit there are more activities to do and books to read together. Go through each toolkit with your child and see how many things there are to talk about!"

Kits include:

• Air and Space: Can It Fly
• Art: Colors, Shapes, Lines
• Art: Light and Shadow
• Me and My World: My Neighborhood
• Music: Animal Tracks
• Nature: Who Lives in the Soil

This project is developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy at Pennsylvania State University, and Middle Country Public Library. It adapts an original set of toolkits, developed by the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology, for a grant with the Institute for Museum and Library Services.