Many studies illustrate how much information children lose over their summer break, including significant math and reading skill loss. In fact, according to Dr. Harris Cooper, a professor at Duke University, children lose as much as a month worth of skills during their summer break. These methods will keep your kids’ minds sharp over the summer
Read together each night
Reading together with your child not only keeps their reading skills sharp and allows them to hone those skills, but it’s a great bonding experience. It helps instill a lifetime love of reading in your child, provides them with a much-needed nightly routine, and makes for great memories. Have your child read out loud to you, or take turns reading out loud.
Infuse learning into fun activities
You can keep children sharp over the summer without putting a damper on the fun. Infuse learning into fun activities. Think of activities such as a thrilling puzzle slide in a treasure hunt that features a math-encrypted map, spy games which feature codes, etc. You can even involve math in things like baking with the children (measuring ingredients), and shopping (saving with coupons). Let children calculate how much money you have saved.
Do a summer science experiment
Brainstorm with your child to come up with a super fun summer science experiment. It could be anything from figuring out whether plants grow better when exposed to music to creating and analyzing different water filters. These activities call on your child’s critical thinking skills and keep their minds sharp. It can also be a lot of fun for families to do together.
Summer learning programs
Summer learning programs can be very beneficial to children. In these programs, children utilize the same skills they use throughout the school year, so they don’t experience as much (if any) loss as children who don’t participate. Parents can check with their child’s school before the end of the year to find out about any local programs. If an actual program isn’t feasible, parents can allow children to do summer learning activities online through educational websites.
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts are great ways to stimulate your child’s brain and allow them to have a lot of fun. There are a huge variety of crafts you can do together, including painting, creating sculptures from recycled materials, tie-dying t-shirts, crocheting, etc. You can also bring more art into your child’s life by visiting art galleries and shows, or learning about the lives of famous artists. Your child may even discover a hidden talent!
By keeping your child involved in learning over the summer, you can prevent important skill loss and encourage them to experience new ways and methods of learning. It can also be a wonderful way for you to spend time with your children and have fun together.