Featured Post from University of Delaware

Those last days of summer: How to entertain your kids before the break ends

“Oh no, I missed the deadline to sign up for day camp!” A University of Delaware expert has tips for parents this summer.

Aug 5, 2024

3 min

Roberta Golinkoff

Are you one of the parents who is panicked at the prospect of entertaining your children for those final weeks of the summer? Did you miss the day camp sign ups early in the summer? 


CaptionResizeWrap TextRemove

University of Delaware expert Roberta Golinkoff has you covered. Golinkoff is an education professor in the fields of education and psychology with over 30 years of experience in childhood education. She is currently Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair and Professor in UD's School of Education as well as a member of the Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Linguistics and Cognitive Science. She also directs the Child’s Play, Learning, and Development laboratory.


She gives tips on how to keep kids entertained throughout the summer, particularly this last month of summer. 


Work with others in your neighborhood in the same boat to create an at home day camp.  


What happens at day camps can be duplicated at home. Consider how they work. Peers get together under the supervision of a young adult and engage in outdoor activities such as foot races and ball games and indoor activities such as arts and crafts.


Camps are hotbeds for playful learning – the way that children learn best. Camps unwittingly nurture communication between peers and adults, collaboration in helping your team, and creative thinking of all types – during craft activities but much more. Making a tentative agenda for kids with other parents in the same boat will be invaluable. But there is no room for a rigid schedule! Time has to be flexible. During the regular year when parents are rushing hither and yon, there is little time to stop and let the action continue. But the summer changes all that. Discoveries like hungry turtles in a nearby pond can be a delight for children.


Even if you can’t find a teen helper or another parent to trade off with, you can engage your children in many activities they will love.


Limited screen time can be beneficial.  


There is nothing wrong with playing with apps or watching television as long as parents make sure the content is appropriate for the age of their children. There are shows that amuse children

and that they can learn from – Sesame Street and Reading Rainbow are prime

examples. And parents can build on these shows by asking children to design the next

episode, “What would happen if Peppa Pig couldn’t find a playmate?” or draw pictures

showing the characters at the beach!


A new website called Stories with Clever Hedgehog and designed in Ukrainian for Ukrainian children suffering from the war is also available in English. Designed by developmental psychologists – including Golinkoff herself – has numerous activities such as games, songs, art, fun facts for children to enjoy.


But media that takes place indoors should just be used as cool down periods and even

then only briefly, or on rainy days. Luxurious breezes, sunshine, and physical activities

are what summer is meant for.


Boredom is ok. 


Boredom is not a bad thing and can be a time for reflection and inner growth.

Ask children to think about what they want to do next and make a plan for the rest of the

day. Ask children to come up with a brand new activity that other kids would like. Media

is not a great solution to boredom anyway but developing strategies to consider

boredom a plus can be.


Golinkoff is available to give more tips. She also welcomes reporters to visit her lab to see what she and her group are working on. Contact her by clicking on her profile. 




Connect with:
Roberta Golinkoff

Roberta Golinkoff

Unidel H. Rodney Sharp Chair and Professor

Prof. Golinkoff studies language development, playful learning, effects of media on children, spatial development, and applying her science.

Early Childhood Education Early Spatial DevelopmentPlayful LearningBenefits of PlayEffects of Media on Children

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from University of Delaware

2 min

Acing AI interviews: Career expert on strategies for job seekers

AI-recorded interviews are becoming a standard step in the hiring process, but many job seekers still aren’t sure how to handle them. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté says candidates should treat these algorithm-driven interviews with the same seriousness as traditional ones and details how this can be done. Panté, director of UD’s Lerner College Career Services Center, can discuss what today’s AI interview platforms really measure – from confidence and tone to eye contact and facial expressions –  and how job seekers can stand out. She can also explain what recruiters are looking for in the AI-generated summaries that often determine who moves to the next round. Panté’s expert tips include: • Check equipment to make sure everything is working and the software is updated; turn off all notifications to avoid distractions and set up the space with good lighting, a neutral background. • Smile and maintain your energy, as some AI software will assess your tone and engagement. • Prepare as you would for any other interview - review the job description, research the organization, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when providing examples. • Be sure to look at the camera and not the screen. It might feel awkward but that’s technically where the "eye contact" will be. • Some platforms will allow you to review your recording before submitting. Use this opportunity to take notes about your body language, pacing and clarity. To contact Panté directly and arrange an interview, visit her profile and click on the connect button. Interested journalists can also send an email to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

3 min

From classrooms to communities: Rethinking civic engagement in K–12 education

When national headlines focus on school board battles and political polarization, James Bridgeforth, assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Delaware, is focused on what’s possible instead: building a more inclusive, participatory model of democracy through public education. His research in UD's College of Education and Human Development explores how community voice, equity and local leadership intersect to shape education policy – and how school boards can serve as vital engines for rebuilding public trust in government. "Despite the often sensationalized stories of chaotic school board meetings and the influence of more national "culture war" issues, I still believe that it's possible for people from different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view to come together to figure out how to best serve the needs of all of our children." – Bridgeforth Bridgeforth’s work centers on education governance, policy and leadership, with particular attention to how racism and anti-Blackness manifest in schools and policymaking spaces. His scholarship highlights the importance of inclusive decision-making, arguing that effective education policy must be representative of the diverse communities it serves. He recently published the report "Navigating Democracy in Divided Times" with co-authors on this topic. As part of his work with the Getting Down to Facts III project at Stanford University, Bridgeforth collaborates with researchers studying how to improve California’s TK–12 system and inform the next governor’s education policy agenda. His work documents the complex realities faced by local school board members – often minimally paid community leaders navigating contentious public discourse, social media pressure and limited resources. He notes that this research can be applied to school boards around the country.  The next frontier: Youth civic engagement Over the next several years, Bridgeforth aims to deepen understanding of how schools can nurture young people’s civic skills and leadership capacity through participation in governance. One proposed project – "Strengthening Opportunities for Youth Civic Engagement and Student Voice in Educational Governance" – uses participatory action research to explore how student board member policies and engagement practices foster civic agency and democratic mindsets. This collaborative work brings together youth-led community organizations and education researchers to study how these experiences shape long-term civic behavior – from voting to public service. Why it matters Bridgeforth’s research arrives at a pivotal time for American democracy. As trust in public institutions erodes, local school boards remain one of the spaces where citizens can directly shape policy. His work points to a hopeful truth: democracy’s renewal may begin in classrooms, communities and the local school board meetings shaping them. For journalists covering education, race or civic engagement, Bridgeforth offers data-driven insight, lived experience and policy expertise – helping make sense of one of the most pressing questions of our time: How can we build systems that truly serve all students and communities? This work collectively demonstrates a number of promising opportunities to foster more inclusive, community-connected forms of governance, particularly in a time of eroding trust in government institutions." – Bridgeforth ABOUT JAMES BRIDGEFORTH Assistant Professor, College of Education and Human Development James Bridgeforth is an educator, researcher and policy advocate whose work focuses on community voice in education policy and the politics of educational leadership. His scholarship has appeared in top journals including Journal of School Leadership, Education Policy Analysis Archives, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and Educational Administration Quarterly, and he has contributed to Education Week and The Washington Post. A recipient of the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, Bridgeforth holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy from the University of Southern California, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology from Georgia College & State University. Expert available for: Interviews on K–12 school governance, education policy and democracy Commentary on community voice and equity in education decision-making Analysis of youth civic engagement and participatory leadership To contact Bridgeforth, email mediarelations@udel.edu.

1 min

In the news: Chronicle features University of Delaware's Career Center

At the University of Delaware, career-development officials believe in teaching students how networking exists all around them, in both curricular and co-curricular realms, by taking career readiness outside the Career Center and infusing networking principles and practices into academic courses, social activities and alumni events. UD's Career Center was highlighted in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article for innovative and exemplary networking practices and teachings.  “If we get students to not think about networking as this static skill I have to build, and it’s more of a natural part of who I am, and it’s in my toolbox, it becomes less arduous, less scary, and easier to do," Rachel Coppola, UD’s Director of Life Design and Career Integration, said in the featured video.  Reporters wishing to speak to career experts can reach out to mediarelations@udel.edu.

View all posts
Powered by