With children currently on summer vacation and occupying their time in front of the TV or in the pool, it is highly common that learning loss will occur if not reinforced with summer learning. Recent studies have shown that when kids return to school after summer vacation, they have lost one to three months of learning. Just as our bodies need exercise so do our brains and summer provides an opportunity to be creative and learn in different ways. The University of Phoenix is offering fun tips to keep your child’s mind active this summer:
1. | Visit Your Local Library Weekly. Many local libraries offer summer | |
reading programs for all ages. Additionally, this will encourage your | ||
child to select a new book week to week. | ||
2. | Read Together. Start a book club with a group of summer buddies - meet | |
weekly at the park for a short discussion, then snack and play. | ||
3. | Visit Museums. Museums are fun, but also educational and can teach your | |
child things they may not learn in school. | ||
4. | Check Out Local Summer Camp Programs. Many community resources such as the | |
YMCA, church and school will provide summer programs. These are great for | ||
learning and socialization. | ||
5. | Find Your Community Nature Trails. Explore a community trail, and along the | |
way talk about sounds you hear, collect different leaves, notice colors, and | ||
point out different animals. When you return home, research your findings together. | ||
6. | Practice Writing. When headed on vacations have your child write the list of what | |
they need to take, and allow them to send postcards to friends and family. | ||
7. | Encourage The Use Of A Journal. Let your child choose a special notebook and | |
encourage them to write in it on a daily basis. | ||
8. | Use Life Situations For Math. Have your children count your change at the | |
grocery store, figure out a tip or estimate the tax. | ||
9. | Get To Work In The Kitchen. Let your children read aloud their favorite recipes | |
and figure out the measurements, elapsed time and serving sizes. | ||
10. | Use travel time to read and review. Listen to books on CDs, practice math facts | |
in the car, play memory games or “geography”. |
To schedule an interview with UOP Instructor Cathy Malone to discuss these and other summer learning loss tips please contact Christina Vanskike at 916-448-5802.
Contacts:
University of Phoenix
Christina Vanskike, 916-448-5802