The last day of school is Friday for students at both Niles and Brandywine Community Schools.

Just because school is out, that does not mean children should stop learning.

In fact, summer is the time when children can experience what is commonly referred to as the “summer slide,” or learning loss due to disengagement from educational activities during the summer months.

Studies have found that children can lose approximately two months of reading skills during summer break. Math skills are often lost too.

Fortunately, many local libraries offer free programs that encourage learning while students are away from school. For example, the Niles District Library started its summer reading program where youth can earn prizes for recording how many minutes they read each day. Children can get started by picking up a reading calendar at the library’s youth services desk.

In addition to visiting your local library, the U.S. Department of Education offers the following tips for avoiding the summer slide:

• Create a summer reading list with your children and reward them for finishing books

• Encourage kids to have fun with arts and crafts, which can engage different parts of the brain and stimulate creativity

• Teach children about healthy eating habits and encourage them come up with their own nutritious meal ideas

• Help your high school student prepare for college by exploring financial aid possibilities and discussing the cost of attendance

• Encourage your child to volunteer at places like summer camps, local museums, animal shelters and libraries

• Take a family trip to a museum or zoo and encourage children to talk or write about their experience and what they learned

• Help your child create a professional resume

• Encourage your older children to get a part-time job, which will teach them valuable life skills in addition to earning them extra spending money

We encourage parents and students to use these tips or come up with their own ways of stopping the summer slide.

Have fun this summer and keep learning.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.