Summer Break, Not Allowed

You know the saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it”?  That’s true, even for the three brief months known as summer break.  Just because school is out doesn’t mean your child shouldn’t exercise his/her mind.  Teachers know, and experts agree, that what is often referred to as the “‘summer slide’ can harm your child’s educational progress.”

According to Ron Fairchild, Executive Director of Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning, here are a few concerns regarding inactive summer learning:

• All students experience learning losses when they do not engage in   educational activities during the summer.

• On average, students lose approximately 2.6 months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills.

• A majority of students (5 percent) want to be involved in a summer program that “helps kids keep up with schoolwork and prepare for the next grade”.

• Research shows that teachers typically spend between 4 to 6 weeks re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer.

These statistics are a harsh reality of summer, but a multitude of FUN things can be incorporated into daily activities to continue your child’s education.

Here are some activities to blend into your summer routine:

• Check with your child’s teacher for a summer reading list and find out what your child will be learning during the next school year.

• Stay sharp with Bright Kids Chicago’s summer programs: Reading, Writing and Math Enrichment; Making Math Fun: Patterns in Problem Solving or Fall Kickstarter.

• Enjoy reading at Chicago Public Library Children’s Summer Learning Challenge, Story Time and other school age programs.

• Discover the Chicago Park District for outdoor sports, movies and music.

• Vacations where new experiences and knowledge of geography is learned.

• Cooking together using units of measure build skills and broaden education.

• Make use of the Lincoln Park Zoo’s free learning: Hurvis Center for Learning Innovation and Collaboration and an iPad App “Observe to Learn”.

• Explore the Field Museum of Natural History’s Artists and Authors free summer program.

The trick to summer educational enjoyment is to keep kids learning through consistent events that are fun, simple and stimulating.  These activities should be enjoyed by the whole family. If everything seems overwhelming, relax, and don’t forget to enjoy SUMMER.