Summer is a time for fun and play. Kids work hard throughout the school year and when July hits, they are ready for a break – just like we are as adults!
\n \nBut summer doesn’t have to mean a stop to learning. Summer Learning Loss is the concept that students lose some of the learning they achieve in school during the lengthy break through July and August. Students go from consistent, daily learning at school to an often more relaxed, flexible schedule.
\nThat change in pace is the perfect opportunity for children to learn without the workbooks and take the learning into the real world. Studying fractions in a textbook may give a student the basic foundational concept; applying fractions into your cooking can help you see (and taste!) the difference between ¼ cup of flour and 2/3 cup.
\nBy practicing the skills your child has learned at school in a different context, you’ll set them up to feel confident and successful when they head back into the classroom in September.
\nEverything is a learning opportunity! Here are five ways to keep your kids’ brains engaged this summer and set them up for success when they head back to school.
\nCreate a daily reading habit. Sign up for the Ultimate Summer Challenge with Calgary Public Library to help with this! This annual reading challenge is an easy way to keep your children progressing with their reading and develop daily habits at the same time. Read every day and track your progress on a fun map. Visit your nearest Library location every week to get a sticker and share updates on social with the hashtag #UltimateSummerChallenge. Everyone who registers is entered to win prizes.
\nCook as a family. Make a grocery list together. It’s short and sweet and gives your kid a chance to practice their writing. They can even draw pictures of the items next to each one. The written word next to the picture helps young children connect with reading and grow their literacy skills. Once you have the ingredients, it's time to get cooking! Grab your favorite recipe and read together while you cook. By the time you’re done, not only will you have a great meal, but your child will also have been exposed to reading and math (hello, fractions!) and the science of cooking.
\nListen to audiobooks on your summer camping trip. Switch from iPads to audiobooks at the campsite. You can download family-friendly audiobooks from Libby. Listening to a story together is good for the brain and counts as reading! It’s something you can do together and then chat about different parts of the story around a campfire with s’mores.
\nWrite postcards to family and friends. Let’s bring back snail mail this summer! Help your child write a letter to a family member who lives out of town. Pick a colorful postcard or get them to draw a picture to go with the letter. Not only does this help your child practice their reading and writing, but it’s a fun way to build connections.
\nMake road trips more interesting. Tired of “I Spy?” Try the Alphabet game on your next road trip. Look out the window and find something that starts with A, then B, C, etc. Games like this can help with vocabulary development and even memory practice if you try to go back to the beginning and remember what D was when you get to Z.
\nWhen in doubt, simply read together. You don’t have to step into a full-fledged teaching role this summer. By being together, living life, and spending time with a good book, learning will happen naturally and your child will get the brain break they need before heading back to the classroom.
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Kate is the service design lead at the Calgary Public Library. The Ultimate Summer Challenge at Calgary Public Library runs July 1 to August 31. To register, visit calgarylibrary.ca/summer.
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