Summer breaks are a time for beaches, waterparks, and fun games under the sun! It’s the time of year that every child looks forward to because they get to enjoy a much-deserved break.
But sometimes, kicking back, and revelling in the enjoyment of the vacation could result in a summer slide. But what does this mean?
Like a slippery slide, some lessons from the previous school year slide away from your child’s memory during the summer. And this means they could regress a bit in terms of academic performance.
Luckily, you can avoid the summer slide with the right learning activities and methods to stimulate your kid’s brain throughout the summer break. This blog will explore what the summer slide is and how to avoid it.
What is a Summer Slide?
During their summer break, your kid may not be able to recall what they’ve learned from the previous school year. This is what we call a summer slide. The lessons from the prior school year slip away from your child’s mind, almost like how a water slide works.
According to one study, kids tend to lose some of the math skills they learn during the two-month summer break. Some studies also show a similar effect when it comes to a child’s reading skills, especially those from a lower economic status. These kids could experience a drop in their reading skills for up to 3 months during the summer break.
The summer slide affects young children more because their minds are still developing. And since they also lack consistent practice, it makes them more susceptible to forgetting what they’ve learned in subjects like math, reading, and science.
Beat the Summer Slide with These Fun Summer Activities
Thankfully, you can prevent summer slump with the right activities. By exposing your children to meaningful learning activities during the break, you can beat the summer slide.
Nurture Their Love For Reading
Cultivate a lifelong love for reading by encouraging your kids to read more. Reading can help improve vocabulary, memory, and imaginative skills. Take at least 20 minutes of reading time with your kid per day to help expand their vocabulary. It also helps if you set a goal on how many books they should read during the summer.
For better learning results, read your little ones books from all types of genres. You can get them to explore reading picture books, magazines, and pop-up storybooks. Here is a list of books that your kid will enjoy.
Play Games for Learning
Learning doesn’t have to feel like a chore. You can incorporate school subjects during playtime to make it fun!
Ditch the textbooks and play games that involve solving simple math problems. Use flashcards to quiz your child on addition and subtraction. Or better yet, ask them to count colored objects in the living room. Performing this simple activity every day can prevent their math skills from getting rusty.
Aside from this, you can also organize weekly game nights like board or card games to develop your child’s critical thinking skills. Games like Monopoly, for example, can help boost cognitive development and teach your child basic math skills.
Conduct Simple Experiments
Children often learn better by actively taking part in tasks. Introduce them to the wonders of science by letting them perform simple experiments at home. For example, they can make rockets out of bottles and baking soda or create lava lamps with vegetable oil and food coloring.
Conducting easy experiments can help familiarize your kids with basic concepts in chemistry and physics. It could spark their interest in STEM-related subjects later on in life. Just make sure you keep a close eye on them to avoid accidents!
Take Advantage of Online Learning Materials
Enhance your child’s learning by using online learning tools. You can easily download learning apps for math, reading, vocabulary, and more.
These apps or websites are accessible on your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or PC. Online resources can teach your child media literacy and other skills they’ll need in school.
But for your kids to make the most of these resources, they’ll need your help. Pick out the right apps for their needs and make sure it’s appropriate for their age group. Don’t forget to set limits on time spent on gadgets. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children over the age of two should only be using smartphones and tablets for up to one hour daily.
Go on Family Field Trips
Plan exciting trips with your family and make your kids experience history and wildlife! Better yet, tell your kids to weigh in and share the places they want to visit one day. Maybe you include those places in your itinerary.
If long-distance travel is restricted, take your family to nearby parks or beaches that are safe to visit instead. Outdoor adventures and new environments always pose many learning opportunities.
Attend Summer School
To help your child retain their knowledge from the previous school year, you can enroll them to a summer school or camp. Unlike the traditional school setup, summer classes are a more interactive environment where you kids can enjoy hands-on activities. They won’t feel bored either because these classes tend to be shorter.
Summer schools can also help build your child’s social and interpersonal skills. Even during the summer, they provide a space for your kids to make new friends and reconnect with old peers. You can find summer schools or camps online or at a location near you.
Beat the Summer Slide
Going through a summer slide is inevitable. But this temporary slump can easily be overcome as long as your child gets into the right learning activities during the break. Simple exercises like reading, conducting experiments, and enrolling in summer school are all great ways to learn.
Looking for a daycare center where your kids can enroll during the summer? Rayito de Sol provides Spanish immersion programs for preschool kids all-year round. Sign up and prepare your child for kindergarten. Visit our website to learn more.
