Summertime Learning

Ahhh summertime. For kids everywhere, it’s a time to sleep in, run around in the sunshine, and generally unwind after a busy school year. 

However, for many parents, it ought to be a time for encouraging their school-aged children to squeeze in a little summertime learning. 

And, this is actually a very important concern; expert research shows many academic skills degrade over summer vacation. As a matter of fact, over the summer months, students can lose up to 60% of the math and reading skills that they learned during the previous year. Naturally, this will lead to a lot of recapping and relearning come the fall. 

But, good news - you can help your grade-schooler stay academically nimble through some critical-thinking activities over the summer. Here are a few ideas!

1. Backyard Scrabble
Here’s a really cool idea we discovered while browsing the web. Make words and spelling fun and outdoorsy with your own homemade cardboard-and-paint letter tiles. Think the popular smartphone app Words with Friends, only way more summery and social!

2. Visit The Library 

This might not make the kids leap out of their seats with joy, but then again, they might not know just how many different things the local library has to offer. With free literary activities, social clubs and science-minded outdoorsy field trips, public libraries are quickly shedding the old reputation of just being a quiet place to be a bookworm. And let’s face it, air-conditioning is always a plus on the hottest of summer days, 

3. Budgeting Skills = Lemonade Stand, Car Wash 
Many of us have at least one entrepreneurial summertime activity in our pasts. For this writer, it was definitely a lemonade stand. Now, in addition to being a source of a little pocket change, a small summer business is a great - and rather sneaky - way to promote practical math skills!

4. Cooking / Baking

Here’s another excellent, math skill-building activity with a fun result. Pick a few simple recipes and watch the kids practice their measurement and time skills. For an extra challenge, get a group together and work on doubling the recipe. Math can be very fun - and delicious!

5. Designated Reading Time 
Alright, not exactly the most fun sounding of the ideas on our list, but reading has really taken off in a mainstream sense - thanks to a slew of bestselling books-turned- blockbuster movies. Encourage a set time on a daily basis for reading a few chapters of a fun book. Who knows? This idea could turn into a neighbohood book club!

These are only a few basic, educational activity examples; we bet you have a few of your own. Leave us a comment and share them with us!