How to prevent summer learning loss

March 16, 2018

• Advice for Parents

Summer learning loss refers to the loss of knowledge and academic skills in children over the summer holidays. The phenomenon has been recorded for decades and it is well-known that six weeks spent without any academic stimulation can lead to a decline of the knowledge learnt in the previous school year. While after a few weeks into the new term of September most children have caught up with what they have “unlearned”, there are a variety of ways to ensure your child does not fall into this cycle of deterioration.

One of the most proactive ways to deter this summer slide is by reading. Reading produces a wealth of benefits from exposure to new vocabulary to simply invigorating the imagination. Creating a reading competition between your children or taking part in a summer reading scheme at the local library adds that extra element of excitement, especially if rewards are involved.

Reading often goes hand-in-hand with writing, providing an overall improvement in literacy skills. Creative writing competitions are a great way to put these skills to the test and often take place for kids over the holidays – just have a search online and see what you can submit. Alternatively, get them to write a short yet inventive paragraph about their favourite outing or activity from that week.

Prevent mathematical skills from going rusty by practicing timetables in the car or involve simple addition and subtraction sums at breakfast time. Maths is the subject that is most at risk from summer learning loss, so try to incorporate it into daily activities. Simply working out prices on a trip to the shops or getting your child to help you figure out the cost of a weekend outing can help to boost their numeracy.

Educational games allow technology to provide a valuable source of learning. There are an endless number of apps available for download that promote vital skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving while also giving your child that beloved screen time.

Finally, there is the opportunity to incorporate learning into your family holiday. Take a visit to a museum or a site of historical importance to engage in the culture or use it as a chance to practice their foreign language skills. Counting up new currencies can also be enjoyable and a good way to involve some mathematical thinking.

It is also important to remember that summer does need to be a time for your child to rest and relax their brain. They do not need to be spending hours a day practicing their spellings or completing maths problems. With the right kinds of activities, learning can take place while having a whole load of fun!

Kings Camps are a great way to enjoy the holidays yet still be educational.