5 Fun Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss

We all want our children to be able to enjoy summer vacation without the stresses of academia. After all, summer time is about pools and ice-pops and long, lazy days, not sitting at a desk learning mindlessly. But the consequences of a low-stress summer can be serious: All children who don't engage in some type of summer learning program will actually forget important information over the course of the season, "losing" a full two months of education.

Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent summer learning loss that are fun and engaging. Here are some fun ways to prevent summer learning loss in kids of all ages:

1. Learning-Focused Summer Camps

You can prevent summer learning loss by enrolling your child in a summer camp that has some form of educational theme. These camps aren't like the boring daily grind of school, but instead incorporate age-appropriate academic skills into arts, crafts, sports, games, and social activities. Museums and private schools are often the best sources of learning-focused summer camps, and (believe it or not!) they can be just as fun as other summer activities.

2. Enjoyable Workbooks

Of course, no child wants to sit down in front of page after page of academic work over the summer, but there are many workbook programs that are available to help prevent summer learning loss. These can be a lot of fun, since many of them encourage creativity, crafting, and even fun projects like scavenger hunts. Ask your child's teacher for a recommendation that matches your school's curriculum.

3. Summer Writing Journal

Start the summer out by giving your child a fresh, new journal with fun writing prompts. (Here aresome great writing prompts for elementary school aged children, to use as a start.) Most children enjoy the creative effort behind daily writing, and a summer writing journal will keep their language, fine motor, spelling, and grammar skills up to speed.

4. Educational Games

Try as we might, we parents aren't always able to carefully temper our kids' "screen time." In the age of smart phones and tablets, it can be very difficult to limit the amount of time that children spend immersed in technology during the dog days of summer. The solution (aside from making screen-media off-limits) is to give your kids access only to games and apps with some educational value. Another tip? If your child has his or her own tablet, you may be able to adjust the parental control settings to limit some games and apps and encourage others.

5. Rewarding Summer Reading Programs

Who among us doesn't cringe at the phrase "summer reading?" Believe it or not, though, summer reading programs can be a blast for kids, with some fun and helpful programs. Your local library may have a program that offers incentives to readers, like a piece of candy every week for participants and a party at the end of the summer for kids who completed the program. Many websites, including Scholastic, offer virtual rewards and daily reading logs to help kids stay on track. These can make summer reading a fun way to prevent summer learning loss instead of a boring chore.

The availability of summertime activities for children can vary by region and financial circumstances, but it shouldn't be hard to set your kids up with some exciting and rewarding ways to preserve their brain-power over the course of the summer. Touch base with your local library or your children's teachers for advice tailored to your own situation.