10 Ways to Help Your Child Prevent Summer Learning Loss

Research shows that summer learning loss is incredibly common when students aren't engaged in learning activities during the months when school is out of session, often losing more than two months in reading achievement. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent learning loss from occuring. Here are the YMCA of Metro Chicago's top 10!

1. Have a family game night: Spending evenings indoors with family promotes creativity and time to foster learning at home. Playing board games like Scrabble can teach your child how to spell, Monopoly is a great way to sharpen math skills and Taboo strengthens vocabulary. Many YMCA of Metro Chicago centers also host Family Nights!
2. Take a trip to your local library: Allow your child to think about his or her interests and then find the perfect section that has books about that interest. Huffington Post even says you can also take turns reading your favorite parts of your book to one another. Many of the YMCA's child care options include reading and literacy enrichment, too!
3. Travel the world ... at home: Traveling is expensive, so cut down the cost by investing in a globe. Take turns spinning the globe and randomly pointing to a country or continent. Then, find out some interesting facts about it on the internet or even make another trip to your library! This can be a great opportunity for your child to brush up on history and maybe even spelling.
4. Take advantage of your smartphone: Smartphones are not only great for keeping in touch with family and friends, but it also allows you to download educational apps for your child. There are a plethora of math, spelling, logic and problem-solving games in your phone’s app store.
5. Encourage creative writing: Edutopia suggests that “creative writing is a great way to improve your children's written language skills while giving them a fun and imaginative activity during the summer.” Have your child write a few sentences to a paragraph per week, and give them some inspiration by choosing a fun topic. Some of the YMCA's arts classes include writing components.
6. Invest in some workbooks: Search for your nearest teacher store or look online for workbooks your child can do over the summer. If they get a little pricey, try searching for free printables online!
7. Focus on areas of difficulty: Edutopia also suggests to focus on the subjects your child had trouble with during the school year. Set aside 15 to 30 minutes a day to sit down with your child and work through a few problems.
8. Make a fun meal: Does your child have problems with fractions or measurements? Cooking might just be a fun way to help. Huffington Post says “theme nights for dinner not only teach cooking skills, but math, as you teach your child how to measure and convert weights, volumes and numbers.”
9. Take a field trip: Take your child to museums that feature art, history or science. On top of having your child learn fun facts, have him or her write down or draw a favorite experience to practice writing and drawing skills. Most YMCA child care options include field trips!
10. Enroll your child in summer camp: Summer camp is the perfect opportunity to get your child out of the house to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is a great time to make new friends, learn about teamwork, participate in physical activity and gain new character-building skills. There are even camps that offer programs catered to your child’s specific interests and host fun field trips.

Do you want your child to build friendships and leadership skills? Enroll your child in our summer day camp today!

Contact the Elmhurst YMCA at (630) 834-9200 for questions or concerns.

There's something for everyone at the Leaning Tower YMCA this summer. See all the programs your family can enjoy here!