Avoid Summer Learning Loss

Read Every Day

The summer provides ample opportunities to read. Whether this is at a park, beach, campground, cottage, or simply in the backyard. Associating reading with relaxation and enjoyment is crucial.  The benefits of reading are endless. It increases mental stimulation, vocabulary, knowledge, memory development, analytical thinking skills, focus, writing skills, and a sense of tranquility.

It’s crucial to ensure your child reads appropriate books. If the reading material is too challenging or too easy, their interest will diminish quickly. Assess their understanding by requesting a summary of what they’ve read. If they struggle to articulate the plot and characters, consider opting for books at a lower difficulty level. Alternatively, have them read a few pages aloud to gauge their pronunciation. If they struggle with more than ten words per page, it may indicate a need for simpler reading material. Remember, their enjoyment and sense of achievement take precedence over struggling through a book and losing interest.

Similarly, reading books that are of interest to them is important. Often times books that are introduced in the classroom are classics and are suitable for both boys and girls. Your son or daughter is unique and they have specific interests. For example, if your son loves sports and outdoor adventures then there are plenty of excellent books that are about these two areas of interest. Visiting your local library and speaking to the librarian would prove helpful. They would be able to provide you with an excellent list of the most popular books for children at your son or daughter’s reading level based on their interests.

Keep a Daily Journal

There are countless benefits to keeping a journal.  For starters, it associates writing with a positive and fun activity. It is especially beneficial for children who are reluctant to write or express themselves verbally. It provides an avenue for expression, to organize their thoughts, clarify their emotions, make good decisions, and reflect on daily activities.

The summer is full of adventures and unique experiences. Writing about one’s daily activities can be a fun experience which can include a scrapbook of pictures and tickets. At the end of the summer, your son or daughter would have a fun-filled book that they can look back on for years to come. For others simply spending some quiet time each day writing can prove highly beneficial.

Flash Card Games

Flashcards are easy to use, convenient, effective, and able to easily be packed in a suitcase!  They are particularly effective for students who are learning addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They can be purchased through a large bookstore, online, or an educational supply store. Squeezing in 10 minutes for a fun math game before dinner can be a fun way for your child to practice math.

Academically Orientated Camps

The options for summer camps are endless. Nowadays there is everything from sports, outdoor adventures, crafts, languages, and overnight camps. What about math or science camps? They are full of fun daily activities to get your son or daughter to learn exciting things about the world around us. Who knows? They may spark a new interest in science or math!

Structured Tutoring Programs

Has your son or daughter fallen behind and is not quite working at grade level? Using their extra time during the summer to focus on specific areas would be highly effective at getting them caught up before the next school year. A qualified and professional tutor can teach a customized tutoring program that can target writing, reading, or math skills. Sometimes it is just a matter of concepts being taught in a different way. Other times a student may just need a little extra time to master the material and be able to focus without all the other distractions of school. Summer learning programs are particularly effective if daily homework is assigned, the tutor has a strong understanding of the curriculum, there are regular tests to confirm a student’s understanding, and report cards are provided.  Naturally, summer is a busy time for a lot of students as they may have irregular schedules and vacations. A tutoring program can work around this schedule and potentially offer an intensive program that covers a lot of material and enjoy summer learning.

Educational Games

Educational games bring an element of fun into learning. Nowadays there are plenty of very well-designed games that help students practice math, science, vocabulary, memory, spelling, and much more!  These can be card games, board games, and video games. It can be an excellent family activity that incorporates fun, learning, and quality family time. You can purchase educational games from various toy stores, educational supplies stores, and online.