Summertime is in full swing, friends! I don’t know about you, but this gal is super excited about it. Even though my husband works 12 months as the principal of his school, and I still work part-time during the summer, the atmosphere in our house is much more relaxed now that school is out.
This time of year is obviously a lot of fun for the entire family. Temperatures are rising, kiddos are swimming, cucumbers are sprouting, and vacations are happening. We have two big trips planned in July and a couple of regional trips planned. I’ve got a list of books to read and a fun Summer Bucket List to achieve.
When I was teaching full-time, I could clearly tell which of my students had maintained some academic activity during the summer months and those who had not. As parents, there are several things we can do to resist summer brain drain during the dog days of summer.
1). Maintain routine: Though the family schedule is bound to change during this time of year, try to maintain a regular routine as much as humanly possible. Routine during the week and appropriate bedtimes are particularly important. I recently read that our brains actually wash themselves of toxins during sleep, so sleep is vitally important for everyone, especially children.
2). Keep reading: Visit the public library and utilize summer reading lists. If your child’s school did not provide a summer reading list, most public libraries have one. Scholastic has a Summer Reading Challenge going on which your children would really enjoy.
3). Embrace teachable moments: Literature, math, science, and social studies are all around us. Visit museums/memorials/historical sites, read the paper with your children, let them help you calculate the family budget, watch independent films, go to a play, collect and study bugs, count tomatoes, etc. The options are endless. There are numerous educational and hands-on learning activities available during the summer months, so as you travel and spend time with your children, always be on the lookout for them.
4). Limit technology: Don’t rely on technology to “baby-sit” children during their break from school. Though teachers aim to incorporate technology into their instructional strategies, children are not on personal social media sites or otherwise perusing the internet during school hours. Make sure your children are still reading, doing puzzles, socializing (with actual people), playing with Legos, etc. during their summer vacation. This will make the transition back to school in the fall much easier.
5). Exercise: Ensure that your family is moving. Most children either have recess or PE during the school day. Numerous others play sports and even walk relatively long distances each day navigating large campuses. During summer break, make sure children are continuing to exercise as physical activity significantly impacts cognitive activity. Research has shown that children who exercise regularly perform better on cognitive tasks.
Whatever you do, be sure to keep those budding brains active. Make it fun and keep it interesting. Children and adolescents do deserve a break from school but not at the expense of erasing any of that knowledge gained last school year. Happy summer!
I am actually THAT mom that makes my kids do workbooks and write me reports over the summer. They’ll thank me someday…I hope.
I am sure they will! What kind of reports do they write?
My daughter is in two virtual classes this summer – Algebra and Spanish! So we definitely don’t have to worry about summer brain drain. LOL
Very true! I love that today’s students have the option to earn credits online.
I like that more parents are trying to help their kids remember stuff throughout summer. I always hated the beginning of the new year because everyone seemed to forget everything and we had to relearn what several of us already knew.
My kids have so much going on this summer that i do not think they will have time to be bored lol.
Oh, what I would give to have summers off! Or at least work part-time! I’ll be stuck here in my office while you enjoy the outdoors 🙂
I do feel very blessed! We’re always tight on the budget during the summer months, but most of the time, it’s totally worth it.
This is great that you are trying to ensure your kids learn throughout the summer. Great tips!
We keep up with reading in the summer. I also do some math programs with my kids, too.
I send my daughter to tutoring for 1 hour per week during the summer. It helps her so much and keeps her from forgetting all that she has learned during the school year. Great tips!
to try to stop the brain drain, we are frequenting the library and doing craft projects. We need to get better about visiting with friends!
Reading. That is my top one. It seems to save me in the Winter too!
Me too! I.Love.To.Read.
Sounds like a great set of goals. Enjoy your summer
That has always been a tradition at our house. During summer break we spend at least an hour every day to work in our workbooks (age appropriate of course). Plus we have our summer reading list! I always hated having summer brain drain when I went back to school after summer break
Reading is a daily requirement in our house. our local library has a summer reading club and it’s a competition – so the more books you read the higher up on the club chart you go!
Thanks for a great reminder. We homeschool so I think I may try to sneak a few books in this simmer.
I feel like I’m on the right track! Kenny is planning to take Lucas to story time at the library (so MORE reading than normal!) and this just confirms that I definitely need to run a 5k with Lucas this summer. 🙂
I am trying to get my son into sports this summer. I have also been trying to get the kids more involved with science. Great Post.
I think this is a great plan. It’s important to get the kids to exercise in the summer because too many kids are so absorbed in their electronics that they have lost interest in just going outside and playing.
I know, routine is so necessary! Even during the school year on weekends! My son isn’t in school yet but I try to get him up and to bed at the same time.
Great suggestions! Kids get so bored during the summer so it’s a great idea to keep them active and engaged!
We signed up for the summer reading challenge at the library. This encourages my girls toy puck up a book more because they get entered to win fun prizes with each book they read.
Love these! In summer I usually feel like my brain is fried by the sun! These tips will help keep me on my toes.
Great tips and ideas! I’ve been trying hard to make everything into a learning experience with my son.
As a teacher, I’m a huge fan of this. The summer reading challenge…..PERFECT!
I totally agree with brain stimulation during summer! We try to have a little workbook activity everyday as well as reading
I am struggling to maintain a routine right now with my youngest. Given that I work from home, I can’t be as hands on as I would like. I have, however, given him assignments that he must complete by the end of the week – reading, writing, math. As long as he completes it, he’s able to play and watch TV.