By Katherine Lee, About.com Guide
How to make sure your child doesn't experience learning loss this summer
Summer reading and learning should be a part of every child’s summer, say education experts. Research has shown that kids can lose as much as a couple of months’ worth of learning in the summer -- a phenomenon that’s often referred to as “summer brain drain.” And experts say math, more than reading, is a subject in which kids are more likely to experience learning loss, possibly because parents, schools and community resources are more likely to focus on a summer reading list than on math. To make sure your child doesn’t experience summer brain drain while on vacation, emphasize summer reading and try these tips:
1. Stop Summer Brain Drain: Go to the Library.
Many public libraries have great summer events and programs for kids. Best of all, it’s free!
2. Stop Summer Brain Drain: Visit a Museum.
Does your grade-schooler love science? Art? History? Find a museum or exhibit near you that has something that might be just up her alley. Then, you can go to a bookstore or library to read more about that topic.
3. Stop Summer Brain Drain: Talk about Books.
Research shows that simply giving a child a book is not enough -- parents need to make sure he comprehends what he is reading. The best way to do that is by asking questions and talking about a book’s plot and characters, or by reviewing that your child learned from the book.
4. Stop Summer Brain Drain: Make Math a Part of Your Child’s Day.
Doing summer math doesn’t have to mean asking your child to sit and practice problems on a math worksheet, but she’ll be able to, say, split up a blueberry pie for dessert. You can also go to the grocery store together and ask her to tally up items or figure out change.
5. Stop Summer Brain Drain: Make Sure He Stays Physically Active.
Studies have shown that exercise can help boost kids’ learning. So while getting kids active has obvious physical benefits, it can also help their cognitive development, too.
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