Whether you call it “summer slump,” “summer brain drain” or the “summer slide,” parents often worry about their children losing academic skills over summer break. There are things that you can do to help your child (or grandchild) keep up those skills without hounding them.
Keep them reading by letting them read what they want, even if it’s comic books or magazines. Maybe find a biography about a favorite athlete, music star, or movie/TV actor. Also, you could have them read ‘the book’ before watching ‘the movie’ and have them talk about the differences. North Regional, Webber Park and Sumner libraries all have kids’ book clubs and family story times along with other fun activities. Check the local Little Free Libraries (LFLs) to find some fun reading materials. There are LFLs at Folwell Park, Webber Park (and most Northside parks), the Story Garden on 35th and Humboldt, the MPD Special Operations building on 41st and Dupont, the 4th Precinct on Morgan and Plymouth Ave, along with many other sites.
Have your child help with meals by reading recipes to you (and you can slip in some math while they help with measuring ingredients). Playing games with your kids like Scrabble, Boggle or Apples to Apples Jr will help with vocabulary.
You can also get in some math in fun ways. The Minnesota Twins have been having a great season so far, so help them learn how to figure out batting averages and earned run averages. You can have them help figure out the cost of the foods on your grocery list by looking at grocery store ads. Pick up a cheap deck of cards and play War, Black Jack or Cribbage with your kids, or you can pull out two cards of each number and play memory with the younger ones. And, of course you can always pull out a Monopoly game. Your kids will like spending time with you and they won’t even know they’re actually learning.
Have your kids get in some writing skills by writing letters to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, etc. Older youth could write to government officials at all levels to let them know their ideas on various topics. They could also write a letter to the editor of local newspapers, like Camden News, or to local newscasters. Younger children often like “writing” their own books. Encourage your kids to write their own poetry, plays or music lyrics.
Summer is a great time to get in some science and nature learning. North Minneapolis has an abundance of great nature places — North Mississippi Regional Park, Ryan Lake, Wirth Lake, Shingle Creek, Bassett’s Creek, Eloise Butler Flower Garden and the Quaking Bog. North Mississippi Regional Park has a number of kid friendly programs (you can check out the Camden News to see what’s happening there each month). Spend time in a garden, either your own or a community garden, and talk about what’s growing, as well as any pollinators or other creatures you may see — this is a way to get in some science learning and some vocabulary.
If you don’t have children of your own, you can still help neighborhood kids get some learning in. Put children and teen books in the Little Free Libraries. Invite neighborhood kids to check out your home garden or a community garden you’re working at. Ask a local kid if he or she wants to “help” work on your car, motorcycle, bike or other machine you’re working on. You could also engage them in a building or craft project you’re doing.
There are plenty of ways to keep young brains engaged over the summer; you just need to make it interesting and fun, and not let on that they’re actually learning!