June 2023 | Vol. 50

Beyond the Park Bench

SCK was founded in 2001 by Roxana Reid with the goal of guiding families and students to self-actualize through accessing just-right educational fit. We are a proud black-owned business.


"Boredom is the dream bird that hatches the egg of experience."
- Walter Benjamin, philosopher
The lure of clear summer skies, starry nights, and great summer reading grows stronger as the June days tick by. A break from the school routine can't get here soon enough for most of us. But also tugging at the line might be anxiety over planning your child's summer. Although some plans or schedules are essential for everyone's sanity and well being, don't make the mistake of overscheduling your child in what is meant to be a season of downtime. Look back on some of your own favorite summertime experiences and memories to recall that many were born in the spaces between plans. When you dare to embrace boredom - you just might discover how uplifting downtime can be.
The Unexpected Value of Boredom

When we don't allow our minds to wander, we miss opportunities to become more creative, reboot mental health, and reconnect.

Click here to learn more about the unexpected values of boredom!
Reclaiming Downtime

A healthy dose of PDF - playtime, downtime, and family time - is what kids need to thrive. The three aren't just "extras" or "niceities" - they're closely connected with building crucial life skills that kids need to become happy and healthy adults. Here's a recipe for parents to inject a bit more "lazy" into their child's summer days.

Click here to learn more about reclaiming your downtime!
For Kids, Should Summer Really Be Down Time?

As summer approaches, parents debate whether the vacation is for play or more learning. Tune into a fascinating discussion hosted by NPR's Michel Martin who hears from Joan Almon, Alliance for Childhood executive director; Elena Silva, Education Sector senior policy director; Connie Schultz, mother and columnist; and Dani Tucker, Tell Me More's regular parenting contributor.
Upcoming Workshop!
Play is a child’s natural language and is the best way for children to learn and communicate. Through play, children discover how to engage, problem solve, self-regulate, make decisions, and collaborate. Hear from Kathryn Ressa MS CCC-SLP TSSLD, speech-language pathologist and pediatric feeding specialist, about how to help your child develop strong play skills.
Calling All Rising Juniors and Seniors!
Make the most of your downtime this summer and check out our pre-college supports!
Jumpstart Your Essay
Brainstorm the personal statement essay, revise, and give additional feedback on steps to polish and finalize the essay.

College Readiness Profile
Designed for students in their first two years of high school. Through a series of sessions with parents and the individual student, an advisor will thoroughly review a student's academic background, interests, and learning style. Families will receive a detailed report with recommendations for course selection, extracurricular planning, test preparation, and an initial college list.

Early Decision Application Review
Pre-submission review of a student’s Common Application and personal statement. Students will also receive feedback and revision suggestions for one early application including supplemental essays.
Summer fun with tutors. Yes, tutors!
There's no denying the opportunities for reading for pleasure in summer are plentiful and bountiful - unless of course your child struggles with reading. If this is the case, you might want to check out Smart City Tutor's specialized tutoring for reading. Our reading tutors are highly trained experts who are passionate about helping students read - and about making it fun along the way! A session a week could be all it takes to pave the way to summer reading fun for your child!
info@smartcitykids.com | 212-249-4066 | smartcitykids.com