From riding bikes to climbing trees, summer break can be a great time for kids to exercise their bodies. But it can also be an ideal time to exercise their minds.
Michelle Storie, an associate professor and the coordinator of the School Psychology Program at SUNY Oswego, said parents should watch out for the summer slide.
"When kids aren't getting that daily repetition of reading and math instruction, they lose skills that they may have learned over the course of the academic year."
But Storie said you don’t have to sit them down at the table with workbooks. Instead, head to your local library and join a summer reading program. Encourage kids to read independently and with adults.
"(Students should read with parents) so that the parent is able to check to see, 'How is this student's decoding? How is this student's reading comprehension?'"
Storie recommends keeping kids writing by having them keep journals, make scrapbooks about their summer adventures, or send postcards to friends and family.
To practice math facts, Storie recommends fun apps like Khan Academy, IXL, Sumdog, or XtraMath. You could also get them involved in household tasks like making budgets or cooking.
"Helping them learn how to measure. What is a cup vs. what is a pint? And really practicing with hands-on math skills," Storie said.
For bigger trips, get kids and teens involved in the plans.
“If kids are going on vacation, even talking about planning out a day, looking at things like elapsed time and hours, or creating a schedule,” Storie recommends. “Also, if they’re buying souvenirs, if they’re paying for food, using money skills.”
Also, she said, don’t forget about day trip opportunities to learn about local attractions and historical sites.
