Keeping Kids' Minds Sharp Throughout the Summer
A trip to the zoo can be the perfect combination of fun
and learning for kids during summer vacation.
As any parent knows, kids often look forward to summer as much as they
look forward to Christmas morning. Children commonly greet time off from
school with open arms, while educators and parents tend to feel more
bittersweet at the arrival of summer vacation.
According to the National Summer Learning Association, research
going back a century has indicated that children score lower on
standardized tests at the end of summer than they do at the beginning of
summer. A 1996 study indicated most students lose about two months of
grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the
summer months.
Though teachers appreciate the break from classes and parents
understand their kids need time to play, educators and parents alike are
concerned by how to keep kids' minds engaged over the summer while still
allowing them the opportunity to be kids on summer vacation.
The following tips can help kids stay sharp and enjoy themselves
this summer.
* Read to children and encourage them to read as well. Summer
reading lists used to be mandatory at many schools across the country.
While that practice has largely fallen by the wayside, parents can read
to their children and encourage children to read on their own as well.
Another way to encourage kids to read involves doing so indirectly
by setting an example. Many adults love to take a book outside during
the summer months, whether it's relaxing on the front porch or reading
at the beach. Let kids see you reading during your own free time, and
they're more likely to mimic that behavior.
* Subscribe to magazines and newspapers. Many of your own favorite
periodicals likely have kids' versions ideal for summer reading. Kids
will look forward to receiving their monthly subscription in the mail
and enjoy spending time poring over articles tailored to them and their
favorite hobbies.
Newspapers can also make for a great and daily source of reading
material for kids. Boys might grab for the sports section while girls go
for the style and entertainment section. This can be a great way for
kids to stay sharp and learn language and usage skills as well.
* Take the classroom outdoors. Kids might not like sitting in a
classroom all day, but that doesn't necessarily mean they don't like to
learn. Summer provides a great opportunity for parents to take the
classroom outdoors by visiting local parks, aquariums, zoos, and
museums. At the local park, allow kids time to soak in the park's
history and identify plants and trees throughout the area. The same type
of lessons can be taught at the aquarium or zoo, where kids can learn
about marine biology and the animal kingdom in ways that don't remind
them of a musty classroom.
* Encourage your child's inner meteorologist. Summer is a season
that can be a lesson all on its own. Though heat and humidity are most
commonly associated with summer weather, the season also serves up a
storm or two or even a drought. Parents can use these changes in climate
as a chance to teach kids about the planet, explaining what's happening
during a lightning storm or how and why droughts occur. Kids who aren't
scared of lightning will no doubt enjoy some storm watching over the
summer, when lightning and thunder combine to make some beautiful
sights.
For more information on summer learning opportunities, visit the
National Summer Learning Association Web site at
www.summerlearning.org.
