Summer Learning: Maintaining What's Been Learned

by Jerome J. Schultz, Ph.D.

During the summer, you should spend a good deal of time helping your kids maintain skills and knowledge they acquired during the year. Mastery is the key here.

Use fun ways, such as computer or board games, to practice or apply skills introduced this past year. Remind your child that a basketball player or gymnast never stops training!

Expansion of skills or introduction of new academic skills is a secondary goal (or challenge) for kids with learning disabilities in the summer. It's probably wiser to leave this up to next year's teachers.

Who Can Help?
Who can do this work of summer teaching and learning? Here are some options:

Your child takes responsibility.

You (father or mother) and your child work together.

Grandparents can help.

Your child can work with an older sibling.

You can hire a tutor to work one-on-one (or with small groups of your child's friends). This can be a baby-sitter, a college student, a professional tutor, a teacher or aide who wants to work over the summer, or a senior citizen or retired person.

How about trading your kids for your relative's kids? It's amazing how much better a child will work around other adults!

Making the Most of Summer Programs
Some parents enroll kids in summer programs that have both a recreational and academic focus (the former makes the latter more palatable). Schools often offer such programs or sometimes they are available privately. Cost is a factor.

Very good programs help kids acquire new skills and practice old ones. Unfortunately, they do not do a very good job of connecting the learning that has just taken place in school or building a bridge to fall. Ask summer teachers how they can help with this, since you want your child to have a "seamless" learning experience.

More on: Summer Learning for Kids with LD

click here

Kids' Travel Activity Book
Don't leave home this summer without this handy, printable activity book for the kids. It has hours of entertainment, including puzzles, word searches and other activities, sure to keep the kids busy on long summer trips. Sponsored by Sears.

Summer Scrapbook
Keep your summer memories alive by creating your own scrapbook. Personalize it with your own photos and our cool graphics! Sponsored by Sears.

What Has Your Child Eaten Today?
Has he gotten enough from each of the major food groups? Use our fun, interactive balanced meal planner to find out!