How Your Kids Can Keep Learning Over the Summer

The last school bell rang and your kids are off for the summer. For most kids those thoughts of schoolwork and lessons are a distant memory and something they won't be thinking about until fall. While kids do need the summertime for their freedom, it's important that they continue some learning during their time off from school. Many studies have shown that kids lose one to three months of learning during the summer. However, there are a few tricks you as a parent can do to keep your child learning so that they don't fall behind when school starts again in the fall.

During the Summer Have Your Kids Hit the Library
Encourage your kids to read by taking them to the library during the summer. If they don't have a library card, get them one. Many local libraries sponsor summer reading clubs that keep your child motivated to read. Make sure to let your child pick their own books out, summer is for fun reading.

During the Summer Have Your Kids Read Everyday
What better choice to have than to read outside on the porch or in the backyard while soaking up the sun. Join in with them, read aloud their favorite book, no matter how many times you have read it. Pick a time everyday where you all stop and read as a family together. Nothing will stimulate a child faster than to have adults reading with them.

During the Summer Find Other Ways to Stimulate the Kids
Show your child the other things to do that keeps them involved and still stimulates them. If you are planning a family trip, have them check out the map and brochures. Let your child go online and research where they are going and what there is to see.

You can also assign your children different things to do that involve reading. Have someone check the weather report in the newspaper or what current event is happening and then have them report it back at dinnertime. Have a child check out magazines or websites for fun recipes that can be prepared that week.

During the Summer Improve Their Writing Skills
Learning to organize your thoughts into a logical manner is a writing skill that is often lost. To help your child, have them write about thing during the summer. If you child has a passion for something such as animals, have them write a short report about them to share with the family. If you are going on a trip, have your child keep a travel journal to be shared with family and friends when you return.