This is a sponsored conversation brought to you by our partners at ScholarShare, California’s 529 program.
All opinions expressed are my own.
School may be out for summer, but take advantage of vacations and free time to keep your family focused on higher education. Here are some suggestions…
University of Miami campus, Image Credit: Grace Hwang Lynch
6 Ways to Introduce Your Kids to College Over the Summer
Learn about universities while on vacation Taking a road trip? Do a search for colleges that are on your way. Most parents think of visiting colleges as something to do with their high school students, but you can get the ball rolling at a much earlier age. We always made pit stops at many colleges on our family vacations. Just stopping by a campus can expose children to the idea of college and get them excited about something they can do when they’re “grown up”.
Go to day camp at a local college Many colleges offer a variety of day camps for kids as young as five: science programs, sports, performing arts. Some programs are even led by collegiate athletes or coaches! My boys enjoyed a STEM camp at a nearby community college this summer.
Send your kids to sleepaway programs at a faraway college Teens can get a more realistic taste of campus life and also practice living independently at one of the many overnight programs aimed at high school students. Students live at a dorm and take classes or practice dance or sports. I’ll always remember the weekend I spent visiting friends who were enrolled in the summer program at UC Santa Cruz!
Visit local colleges in your hometown Even if you don’t have the opportunity to go on vacation or send your children to a summer camp, you can take a walk around a campus in your area, whether it’s a small private college or a state university. Campuses are generally less crowded during the summer, making it a good time to visit a university museum or just have a picnic on the grounds.
Get your kids in the habit of saving Running a lemonade stand? Or having a yard sale? Pet-sitting? There are lots of ways for kids to earn some extra cash during the summer, and it’s a good opportunity to teach youngsters to save some of their income as well as spending it. For smaller children earning some spare change, consider teaching them to set aside a few cents on every dollar in a piggy bank or jar. Older kids with bigger incomes can make deposits right into ScholarShare accounts.
Have you started introducing your kids to the idea of going to college? Tell us your ideas in the comments.
This is a sponsored conversation brought to you by our partners at ScholarShare, California’s 529 program.