Wondering how to keep your child interested in learning during the summer months?

Trust me, you’re not alone.

Kids, parents, and everyone in between long for this time of year for so many reasons, but if you’re a parent who is going to have to get your child motivated for another school year come Labor Day, it would be wise to keep the chapter on learning open throughout the summer, too!

But how do you do that when your child so desperately needs a break from the hard work they’ve put in all year long?

I am a firm believer in letting kids be kids, let’s get that straight. We all need time to unwind, unplug, and disconnect from hard work. According to this article from Oxford Learning, between the end of one school year and the start of the next every student risks summer learning loss.

What does this mean?

  • Over 2.5 months of math skills are lost over the summer.
  • The equivalent of one month of learning is lost after summer vacation.
  • Six weeks in the fall are spent re-learning what was already taught the year before.
  • By the end of 6th grade, children who experience summer learning loss can fall up to two years behind their peers!

Frustrating considering how hard you’ve watched your child work, right?

Thankfully, there are ways to avoid these statistics and keep our children on track during the summer months. Not only will this help them stay motivated while having fun during their break, it’ll strengthen their retention rates year after year.

 

Here are the top 3 ways to keep the love of learning alive, and avoid learning loss, while your child enjoys a break this summer:

1. Continue a daily reading habit.

Consistency, with everything is key – but nothing is more important than keeping a daily reading habit. Many schools assign a summer reading project, which helps with this strategy. If your child has not been assigned anything, make it a point to visit your local library at the start of the summer break and have your child pick out a few books that interest them. Create a daily reading time, whether first thing in the morning or on a lazy, hot, summer afternoon, where your child spends some time alone with a book of their choice. There is nothing better for the brain than a quiet room, a good book, and some steady concentration.

2. Team up!

Physical activity is a great way to keep the mind active! In fact, regular physical activity can lead to increased concentration and improved mathematics and test scores. If your child is into sports, have them join a league over the summer that will keep them active. If athletics and team activities are not their thing, make it a habit to get outside with your child a few times per week to get their hearts pumping and their blood flowing – great brain food for the both of you!

3. Allow technology at the table.

Yes, you read that right. There are certain things that iPad or iPhone are really helping your child with, and that is their ability to use technology to figure things out. There are thousands of apps designed to help your child learn, rather than just play, and the summer months are a great time to take advantage of these! Help your child pick out a few apps that cover a range of different subjects and challenge them to beat their own scores on a weekly basis, practice new skills, and get a leg up on the competition for the upcoming school year.

Have a great summer!