Getting Kids to Remember What They Learn from School Over Summer

School’s Out for Summer – your kids aren’t thinking about homework or projects or classrooms. They’re thinking about long, hot days, swimming pools and all the fun that comes with three months of freedom. Chances are, a lot of what they have learned over the previous nine months is going to fly right out of their heads as they dash from the school on the last day. If this is a concern for you, here are a few tips to help you help your children retain what they learned and make the next year a little easier.

 

• Retaining Math Skills: This is probably one of the easiest skills to help your children stay sharp in over the summer. Incorporating math into games is the easiest way to go – especially board games. Depending on the age of your children, there are also board games that incorporate colors and counting into game play as well. Games like Monopoly are great for counting and using money as well.
• Science and Nature: Summer is a great time to teach children about science and nature. One of the simplest and perhaps the most fun ways is to build a butterfly garden with your children. Kits are available online or at your local gardening store or you can even do some research and make your own. Zoos, science centers and botanical garden locations also help instill what they may have learned the previous year or what they’ll be learning about in the next year.
• Reading:  If you’re like many parents, this is probably one of the most difficult things to get your kids to do in the summer. The weather is sunny and warm and there are lots of things to explore outside – the last thing your children are thinking about is staying inside and reading. Instead of insisting on just books, have your kids read the comics in the newspaper, the back of their cereal boxes, the signs you see on your daily errands or vacation. Save the books for rainy days and plan to spend some time reading with your child, too!

There are plenty of ways to keep your children learning without making them feel like it’s work. Use your imagination and enjoy your summer!