Although school is out for summer, child and education experts say it’s important that the learning doesn’t stop.
The break from classes can become apparent when students return in August. Teachers call it the “summer slide” but say it’s easy to avoid.
Because many parents work and children are left home alone, at a family member’s house or with a baby sitter, it’s important to ensure they get some brain stimulation, they say.
Jacksonville School District 117 curriculum director Sarah Raynor said students who stay active and keep their minds active during the summer tend to remember information more quickly when they return to the classroom.
“Each year, teachers often spend a little time on review,” Raynor said.
Summer slide is caused by children not exploring, she said. Simple activities such as reading a book, even if it’s fiction, keeps them thinking, she said.
Schools used to offer some summer activities but had to cut them because of funding decreases, Superintendent Steve Ptacek said.
Programs are available to help children stay mentally active, including the Jacksonville Public Library’s mobile library and its summer reading program. Other libraries in the region have similar programs.
Judy Wright, the YMCA’s summer day camp director, said children who participate in the camp spend their time swimming, playing games, interacting with other children and participating in activities related to weekly themes such as science, music and fitness.
“We don’t do the same thing each day,” Wright said. “We engage them in games and we have a half-hour reading program each day.”
Wright said the program gives children time outside of the house to experience different things.
“It gives them something different to do than sitting at home watching TV,” she said.
While the camps aren’t inherently educational, Wright said the different activities allow the children to use their brains to figure out strategy, solve puzzles, create music or complete an experiment.
Activities such as visiting a nursing home allow campers to meet new people and talk and learn from them.
According to the National Summer Learning Association, children in lower-income families tend to experience more effects from summer learning loss. More than 25 million low-income students in America spend summer vacation worrying about food availability and having a safe place to stay instead of exploring as other children do, according to the group.
Raynor said families who do not have a lot of money still have options, such as getting books from the library or participating in other free activities that are available.
Just getting out of the house is better than sitting at home, Raynor said.
“Get out. Go to the park. Explore,” Raynor said.
