Summer Slide No More: Tips to Help Your Child Avoid Learning Loss

Thank you to the Huntington Learning Center for sponsoring this post and providing these tips for how your child can stay on top of learning this summer.

summer slideWhile summer break is a good time for students to relax, it is important to use that time as a chance to catch up and avoid the “summer slide.” Every year, students lose several months’ worth of reading and math skills over summer break, and the problem is compounded because of the “COVID-19 slide” that occurred during on-and-off remote learning. More than ever, it is important that parents help their children get back on track if needed and keep their brains working during the time they’re not in school. Below are some tips to help your child stay on top of learning this summer:

Read daily. A daily reading habit is one of the easiest ways for children to keep their brains in shape over the summer and deter any loss of reading ability. Incorporate reading into the summer routine. Check out book clubs or summer reading programs offered at your local library or bookstore. Start a series as a family and read a book together.

Write often. Writing frequently will help your child keep up important literacy skills such as self-expression and vocabulary acquisition. While you might have trouble convincing your child to write essays or book reports this summer, creative writing or journal writing still has many benefits. It encourages creativity, problem-solving, and experimentation with various types of storytelling, and also improves communication skills.

Plan educational visits. Don’t forget that visits to your local history, science, art, and other museums are fun learning opportunities. If you’re taking any vacations, incorporate a family field trip to an interesting monument, historical site, or museum in the area you’re visiting. Before you go, check out books from the library about the place or topic that you can read together. Use the plane or car ride home as a chance to reflect on the visit, what your child learned, and what he or she wants to learn more about.

Set aside daily learning time. If your child does best with a learning routine, consider purchasing grade-specific workbooks that your child can work on throughout the summer. The goal of these programs is to help students practice and maintain skills they acquired all year and prevent them from losing those concepts due to inactivity.

Enroll in a summer learning program. Whether your child struggled this school year and needs to catch up or you want to help your child build new skills and confidence, an individualized summer tutoring program is a great solution. Huntington Learning Center can help your child maintain skills, improve habits and prepare for a smooth transition into the next grade.

About the Huntington Learning Center

Huntington is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, AP exams as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students succeed. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible. Learn how Huntington can help at huntingtonhelps.com or call 800 CAN-LEARN. Find locations in Fleming Island, Jacksonville Beach/Arlington, Mandarin/Julington Creek, and St. Johns.

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