Summer learning loss
June 28th, 2012 / in Blog / 
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For most families in Silicon Valley, school is out and summer is in!
Perhaps the morning rush getting our kids to school on time can relax a bit. Maybe we can break some rules and let our tireless little engines stay up later. And what about all that learning that took place last year? Trust that it will stick? Or do we parents need to focus on literacy retention?
According to the organization, Reading is Fundamental (RIF), all young children experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities during the summer. So what are fun ways for parents to keep their children sharp during the lazy warm months ahead, without resorting to workbooks?
- Keep reading those picture books and stories out loud, and have your children find objects on the pages. Once they get the hang of it, you can make objects tougher to discover – like a treasure hunt.
- Young children tend to want to hear the same story read multiple times until they have it memorized. If they’re game, have them tell you the story.
- Encourage your child to write – this includes anything from scribbles to actual words.
- Use a variety of mediums for them to explore – fat crayons, skinny colored pencils, brightly colored markers, oil pastels, etc.
- Ask questions about what your child is seeing and reading. Engage in conversations. Follow their lead no matter where it goes. This encourages their imagination and curiosity about the world.
- If you’re child is ready, write “books” with them. Staple a few sheets of paper together, and have them write simple sentences (spelling does not have to be correct) with a corresponding drawing. Keep these stories in a special box for them to show how much you support their exploration of expression.
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