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How to Prevent Learning Decay Over the Summer
What suggestions do you all have for preventing your child's school skills from slipping over the summer? Our rising 1st grader is in summer camp, but he struggled last night to write 2 thank you cards for his Y counselors -- have his writing skills deteriorated just in 2 weeks? Is anyone else experiencing this? We read to him at night and I'm thinking about getting him some tutoring in July. Back when I was a kid I had to do math workbooks every day over the summer and I loved to read so that wasn't an issue :( Share your thoughts and/or experiences!
Comments
I have the same worries. My son will be in first grade next year and is going to daycare part time and staying with his nana for 3 days a week. Starting today I sent him some worksheets for him to do as well as sight words to study. I bought several 1st grade disney workbooks at the dollar tree.
What is important is that kids are engaged in mentally stimulating and creative activities over the summer rather than practicing rote skills. If they are actively pursuing an interest or hobby for fun, that is more valuable than workbooks for their over all eventual skill and talent development. Have them use the skills you want them to have (writing or adding or whatever) in their everyday life activities. Plunking them down in front of the tv and then workbooks wont go as far as instead pretending they are a super hero and having them make a comic book about it with dialog. Integrate the skills into their play.