Ahhh! Summer. A time to relax and enjoy those lazy days filled with trips to the park, family vacations and backyard barbecues, right? Not so fast! Summer can entail more than just a change from the usual routine. For children, it can mean a serious loss of learning. Research shows that many children experience a ‘summer slump’ and can lose about four weeks of growth from the previous school year. However, there are many things a parent can do to keep their child’s brain active. Here are a few ideas recommended by experts to help prevent the dreaded ‘brain drain’.
Read between the lines. Have your child join the local library’s summer reading program or start their own reading program or book club. They can set a goal for reading so many books and even keep track on a book ‘growth’ chart. Incorporate reading into everyday activities by pointing out billboards, fliers, food containers and such. Younger children can play the alphabet game on longer drives.
Talk the talk. Ask questions about anything and everything, but not the kind of questions that only illicit “yes” or “no” answers. For instance, ask “What did you like about . . .?” “What was your favorite part. . .?” Get children talking, and you may be able to turn a normal experience into a teaching moment.
Got Game? Organize game nights not just for your family, but in the neighborhood. Play educational games like Scrabble, Uno, crossword puzzles, Sudoku or basic card games. They make for a fun night and reinforce skills such as memory, concentration, logic and reasoning. They also teach children how to take turns, and be both a good winner and a good loser.
Vacation your body, not your mind. Going on a trip can be a great time to expand more than your physical horizons. Use the library and Internet to learn about the destination and its historical sites. Study maps and plot mileage.
It all adds up to fun. According to the National Summer Learning Association, losing math skills is the biggest threat. Try a number of activities to reinforce math skills. For instance, look at the measurements in a recipe you’re making and ask your child to double it. Ask your child to compute the 15% tip on the restaurant bill, or determine how many gallons of gas are needed to travel the 50 miles to grandma’s house. Make math a part of your everyday life.
Let’s stamp out summer slump when it comes to our Defer Dragons!!
