We’re still in the middle of summer, but the school year will be here before you know it!
Your kids may be enjoying their summer break, but how much do they remember about what they learned in school last year? Will they be prepared when they go back in the fall?
Summer vacation is the perfect time for kids and families to relax and have fun, but it’s also important to make sure your brain stays active and to continue building important skills. Unfortunately, many students experience “summer slide,” which refers to the learning loss that occurs during extended breaks from school.
According to the National Summer Learning Association, kids can lose roughly one to three months of academic progress during summer break, which leaves teachers having to play catch-up at the beginning of the new year.
If students don’t practice what they learn, they can easily forget it. To help you out and get your kids back on track for the new school year, we put together a list of 5 tips for preventing summer learning loss:
Read 20 minutes each day
Reading helps kids develop critical thinking skills, communication skills, memory, empathy, imagination, and so much more! Visit your local library and let your kids pick out books that interest them. If they get to choose their own books instead of having books assigned to them, they will hopefully be more likely to enjoy reading. Set aside a specific time each day for your kids to read. Our friends at the Children’s Reading Foundation recommend 20 minutes of reading each day.
If your kids are too young to read or just find it difficult to get through a book, try reading out loud to them or finding an audiobook for them to listen to. Kids may also benefit from going beyond books and reading newspaper comics, magazines, and online articles. Reading helps kids expand their knowledge and engage with the world around them!
Enjoy hands-on, educational activities and exhibits
Make learning a fun and interactive experience! If you can, try taking a mini vacation as a family and visit nearby museums, aquariums, science centers, historical landmarks, or any other educational places that might spark your kids’ interests. Seeing and engaging with something in person is much more fun than learning about it from a textbook!
This can also be a great opportunity to explore what types of educational experiences your community has to offer. If you don’t know where to start, try searching online for reviews of museums near your city or town.
There are also many ways you can provide a fun, hands-on learning experience right in your very own home. Try doing some science experiments using materials you may already have at home. If you need some inspiration, take a look at our list of 5 Easy & Educational STEM Activities For Kids This Summer. These experiments and projects will definitely get your kids learning and having fun at the same time!
Turn everyday activities into learning opportunities
There are opportunities to learn everywhere! Incorporate learning into everyday activities to turn even simple tasks into valuable educational experiences. If you’re running errands or going for a walk with your kids, try encouraging them to count objects they come across, such as cars, trees, or birds. They can also count their toys while they’re playing with them or putting them away.
Other examples include going on a trip and having your kids read road signs, or going to the store and having them count change. If you’re cooking, let them measure ingredients and work on fractions. You can also use summer break as an opportunity to practice other skills they may need to work on, like tying their shoes or reading analog clocks. These everyday learning activities will keep their minds engaged and create educational family moments!
Unleash your imagination and creativity
Being creative and using your imagination is a great way to keep your mind active! Painting, making something out of clay, doing crafts, playing a musical instrument, or writing a story are just some examples of the many ways kids can explore arts and crafts while they’re on vacation.
Creativity gives kids opportunities to express themselves in unique ways while developing critical thinking skills. Creating something tangible also helps kids feel a sense of accomplishment and builds their confidence. If your kids are looking for something to do besides sit on the couch and watch TV, definitely check out some arts and crafts. If you don’t know where to start, we have plenty of art DIY tutorials for you to try!
Stick to a schedule
It’s easy to fall into bad habits when you don’t have a set schedule! Many kids and teens find themselves staying up all night and sleeping all day during the summer, and then when they go back to school in the fall, they have to readjust to early bedtimes and early mornings. While they may not need to get up at the crack of dawn every morning, setting a reasonable sleep schedule will help make sure they maintain good habits as they prepare to head back to school.
It also helps to give kids things to do every day! Staying physically and mentally active and being aware of daily habits is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
To help you out, we’ve created a FREE Printable Summer Goals Checklist! Download the pdf, print out some copies, and have your kids set some goals for themselves (big or small!) so they can stay productive.
Some kids may feel nervous about going back to school and returning to classes and homework, but you can help make the transition easier. If your kids continue learning and keeping their minds engaged while on vacation, they’ll be confident and ready to go when the new school year arrives this fall!
