With the school year coming to a close, many parents wonder how to keep their children active and engaged in learning during the traditional summer recess. According to Jack O’Connell, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, “When children are inactive mentally and physically during the summer, they often have to take time to get back up to speed in the fall.” Below are some tips for summer learning:

· Turn off the television and computer and play outside: Call your neighbors and start a volleyball game in your yard. Dust off the old Slip ‘N Slide and invite some kids over for water fun. Physical activity helps prevent the silent epidemic of childhood obesity. Teamwork teaches children about the values of helping, sharing, listening, respecting, and participating.

· Watch educational programs: If it's too hot outside there are several educational programs on television, such as "The Electric Company" or "Sesame Street" on your local PBS stations. These programs are also online and offer activity and educational resources for children. For more information, please visit Home - Sesame Street or The Electric Company

· Set aside time each day to read: Read the morning newspaper with your children, or find a good book at the library or bookstore. Reading keeps children's minds active and engaged and ready to learn when they go back to school. Search the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Recommended Literature database that will help you find age-appropriate materials at Search List, Recommended Literature for Reading and Language Arts, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.

· Volunteer: Summer jobs for teens can be scarce because of the economy. Instead, encourage your children to volunteer at your local nonprofit agency, help some elderly neighbors, or those less fortunate.

· Encourage children to create their own job: Children can mow lawns, pet sit, house sit, or take care of your neighbors' plants while they are on vacation. Or they can baby sit after getting lessons from your local American Red Cross Chapter. Search for lessons near you at American Red Cross, keyword "babysitting lessons." Work helps children learn about responsibility and financial literacy.

· Start a scrapbook: Find all your old vacation pictures that are stashed away in boxes and work with your children to put together a scrapbook. This helps preserve your fun vacation memories, initiates family conversations, and helps you bond during the tough economic times.

· Visit your local museums: Families sometimes only go to museums when they're on vacation and rarely visit their own hometown's facilities. The American Association of Museums reports attending a museum is very affordable and often free. Search for a museum near you at AAM Member Museum Directory

· Go grocery shopping with your children: Let them help you plan your meals. Then you can teach them the value of good nutrition, balanced meals, and making healthy choices. While at the grocery store, let the children add up the price of groceries. This will teach them about math.

· Cook dinner together: Let your children help you prepare a meal. This teaches them how to be self-sufficient and independent. Let them measure out the ingredients and teach them how the ingredients interact with each other. This allows them to practice their math and chemistry skills.

· Let your kids teach you how to use a computer: Using technology comes naturally to children who were born in the Internet age. Letting them be the teacher teaches them how to engage their parents in conversation, patience, and makes you listen to each other, which may become a bonding experience.

Information adapted from: Tips to Keep Children Engaged in Learning During Summer Recess

Here are ten great tips to get you motivated and ready to save:

1. Subscribe to your local papers
You have to get coupons to use coupons! The quickest way to get started is to subscribe to your local newspapers. Savvy coupon users find that getting a subscription for each member of the household helps to maximize coupon benefits by using the extra coupons to stockpile items that your family uses frequently.

2. Start a coupon circle
Tell a few friends, family, and coworkers that you’re going to start using coupons and ask if they’d like to join in. You can build a valuable buddy system and share coupons with one another. Invite everyone over for snacks and coupon clipping and share the benefits with those closest to you. You’ll stay motivated and you may even get a few extra coupons, which means extra savings!

3. Get organized
Maximizing the benefits of couponing means staying organized, like using a three-ring binder, envelopes in a shoebox, or paper clips. Whatever you choose to use, make sure it works for you and stick with it.

4. Print and save
Browse the web for great savings on coupons and sign up for manufacturer’s emails (which often include a coupon). Worried about spam? Get a free email account that you’ll use exclusively for couponing.

5. Plan ahead
Expert coupon users rarely run out of items because they plan ahead. Plan by using pen and paper, a computer spreadsheet, or a smartphone app. Consult your manufacturer coupons and your local stores circular to find out what items are on sale and use your coupons to maximize those savings. Planning your meals around store specials and what coupons you have can really save you money.


6. Get to know your local store
Most coupon users don’t shop at one store, but they do know their local stores very well. If your store has a website, they often post the weekly specials online which will make it easier for you to plan your trip. Speak with the manager about any coupon policies and get to know the clerks for hassle-free shopping. Also be sure to sign up for loyalty cards at the stores your frequent most. 


7. Coupon Courtesy
The first few times that you use coupons, it may seem like a hassle; but with a positive attitude, you can fly through the check-out with ease. If you have a lot of coupons, let the clerk know and ask if they would like for you to organize your items in a particular way.


8. Stock up
Stockpiling doesn’t need to take up a lot of space. Find an empty shelf or cabinet and begin filling it with items that you get for free or at a deep discount. This works particularly well for toiletries and household cleaners.


9. Forget warehouse clubs
You’ve started to stockpile your items and maximize the benefits of using coupons – so who needs megastores? Most warehouses charge a yearly membership fee, meaning you have to pay a hefty fee just to save money.


10. Be patient 
You won’t save 80 percent on your groceries during your first trip; but, you may save 5 or even 10 percent. Over time you’ll become more experienced and you’re savings will increase. Keep motivated by recording coupon savings and think of how you can use that money toward paying down debt, a dinner out, or even a vacation!