5 Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
Schools out for summer! But, that doesn’t mean that learning should be kicked to the curb too. Research shows that during the summer months, children who don’t engage their brains can lose up to 3 months of grade-level equivalent math and reading skills. The AGTS team has come up with a list of tips to help you reinforce learning skills during the summer break – all while having fun!
- Ready, set, read!
The best way to continue learning is to keep reading during the summer break. Just 15-20 minutes of reading everyday can help prevent reading loss. There are several resources available to help you determine which book your child should be reading based on their grade level, such as the TVO kids’ summer reading list. Read with your kids and make reading a fun family activity! As a parent you need to be a role model and engage with your children about their own reading by asking them questions.
- Let’s write
There are many ways to keep your child’s writing skills up during the summer months. Here are some of our favourites:
- Have your child write you a weekly email outlining what they’ve done during that week.
- Have your child write letters or send postcards to relatives detailing their summer plans/activities.
- Have your child write a blog that chronicles their summer activities.
- Play board games
Any board game that includes spelling or play money can help your child with their math and reading skills. There are many board games that require your child to do simple math calculations and use their vocabulary. Our staff mommy picks: scrabble, battleship, monopoly, and uno.
- Cook together
Who doesn’t love baking? Cooking presents great opportunities for your children to use math and reading skills. Let your child read the recipe aloud and choose the right measuring cups and spoons. For older kids, you can throw in some more difficult math questions by asking them to measure two times ¼ cup of sugar or one plus two tablespoons of butter. Get creative!
- Go on a field trip
Visiting a local museum, science center, or historical site is a fun way to nurture your child’s curious brain! These places offer a wide variety of hands on activities that are fun for children and encourage them to learn. You can further enhance their learning experience by discussing their favourite activities afterwards and building on what they’ve learnt.
