Sneak Some Math into Summer Vacation

Tips to Have Fun and Stay Sharp

By Beth Hering

Let's face it – when the summer sun is calling your child outdoors, the last thing he really wants to think about is anything related to school. Sure, you may be able to convince him that enjoying a book under a shady tree is not too bad of a way to spend an afternoon (or at least that it could bring him closer to a prize for finishing the local library's summer reading program), but ask him to do math during vacation and you will officially be entered in the "Craziest Parent of the Year" contest.

If you'd like your preteen to do more with numbers this summer than remember the time and channel of her favorite rerun, you'll need to be a bit sneaky. The good news for your child is that sneaky doesn't have to mean boring.

Just as it is for adults, money is a great motivator for tweens. Encourage yours to rummage for unused toys and books and have a garage sale. If your child has trouble coming up with enough merchandise, "encourage her to sell lemonade, soda or cookies, too," says Geri Strandberg, a mother of two from Gilbert, Ariz. Not only will it make your house neater, it will give your child the chance to practice some mathematical skills. Discuss the concept of depreciation, and then let your preteen figure out what to charge for each item. Most Web sites devoted to garage-sale pricing recommend 10 to 30 percent of the original cost as a guideline. At the sale itself, let the child assist in adding up totals and giving back change.

With money in their pockets, preteens will probably want to hit the mall. Before you agree to drive, though, see if you can get them to think a bit longer term. Opening or adding to a savings account not only makes money available for bigger goals, but also rewards with free money in the form of interest. Many banks offer free gifts, such as piggy banks or stuffed animals, to young customers on their first visit. Monitoring account activity can help your child see how math is applicable to the "real world" and may instill a sense of pride in being old enough to have a personal statement book.

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