But the kids.
Oh the kids.
They need a break too, but did you know that they can lose up to a month of learning during these 10 weeks of summer? Did you know they can drop a few reading levels if they don't continue with their daily reading? It's true. And, quite honestly, it's frightening. This is why many states are pushing for extended school years and year-round schooling.
So what can you do to keep your kids on their educational tippy-toes?
1. First and foremost encourage them to READ. It doesn't need to be The Great Gatsby or The Life of Helen Keller, it just needs to be a book, magazine, article, pamphlet. Anything. Really. Yes, even The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Visit the library every other week and let your child go nuts. When they are surrounded by books they will head towards a series or topic that interests them. Promise. And while you're there, check out some books too. The best way to improve your child's reading is simply to model reading yourself. If they see you doing it, they will do it too. Double promise.
2. Try to encourage them to keep a Summer Writer's Notebook. Do not call it a diary or a journal - how taboo! Call it a "Summer Writer's Notebook." Many language arts teachers are using the term "Writer's Notebook" in school already so they should be familiar with the term. What is it and what does it entail? It's simply a - gasp - diary/journal. It's a place where your kids can write about anything at all. They can start pieces and leave some unfinished. They can add sketches. They can write poetry. They can make lists of their favorite baseball players and stats. They can write anything. Really. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. The goal is to get them writing.
3. Keep them active and learning simultaenously. With the extreme heat and the release of new video games this one is tough. But a healthy body leads to a healthy and strong mind. Get to the pool or the lake and then research about the effects swimming has on your body. Research about why things float and then try boating or kayaking. Take pictures of the fish they caught and then research about the fish habitats, diet, and life cycle. Maybe do some research on plants and flowers and then tend to a garden. Going to see the latest movie? Have your child do the math on how much money 4 tickets cost. Do you get the picture? Keep them active and try to supplement it with some kind of learning experience. Keep it fun, interesting and relevant so they will never know what hit them!
4. Don't forget about friendships. School is not just a place to learn math facts and the state capitals. It is a place for children to explore and conquer social situations. Sharing, taking turns and engaging in everyday conversations are all learned skills that need to be practiced. When school is out social situations may become less frequent which can lead to some awkward social encounters come September. Keep kids engaged with children their own age so they can continue to spread and grow their social butterfly wings.
Summer is a time for fun in the sun, but we all work hard all school year to motivate our children and keep them learning. Don't let their hardwork (and yours) slip away. Keep them moving forward down the path of success.
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