Kids and parents alike look forward to summer break the entire year—it spells the end of homework, tests, packing lunches for the entire family, and early morning commutes. However, this time off can sometimes hinder a student’s academic progress. Here are some tips for maintaining your child’s curriculum this summer.
Learning Routine
The school year offers children nine months of learning structure that helps reinforce the curriculum and progress their academic abilities. Taking three months off of learning can certainly hinder a child’s natural progression through this schooling process. As such, it’s essential to maintain an academic routine throughout the summer.
Commit to two hours of curriculum review per week. This only averages out to twenty-four minutes a day, but even this small amount of study time can keep a child’s academic brain stimulated and sharp. These study sessions don’t have to mirror their in-school curriculum—get creative with the activities you conduct to better engage your child. Consider filling up this summer schooling with the following ideas.
Field Trips
Field trips are a great way to immerse children in their studies; they offer kids a better perspective of their subjects and activate a different part of their brain. The best part about conducting your own field trips is that your options are greater.
You can pick practically any destination that fits the curriculum—get creative with the locations you pick and encourage your children to help brainstorm ideas. Remember to go into each field trip with an overarching lesson plan.
Book List
Summer reading isn’t assigned as often these days, but it’s the perfect way to keep children sharp over break. Tackling some literature will actually set your child up for greater success early in the fall. Plus, there are so many great options that help reinforce various subject matters and keep children away from screens.
Don’t stress over which books your child reads—allow them to pick their own favorites, as this activity is more about activating the learning brain. Read their selections yourself so you can have regular discussions about the literature.
Time Off
Remember that summer is a time for rest and relaxation; your children dedicate a lot of effort and time to their studies, making a three-month break well deserved. The best way to maintain a child’s academic skills is by giving them adequate time to explore and let loose.
Allow them plenty of opportunities to socialize, play, and travel. These activities all help with brain development, so time off is actually beneficial. Find the right balance between play and studies, and your child will exceed expectations.
By maintaining your child’s curriculum throughout the summer, you ensure their academic progress won’t degrade after three months off. Learning and retaining subjects over long periods without schooling structure is hard for young ones; for example, many children struggle to maintain language studies over summer break. Use this guide to set a path for success for your loved ones.
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