How to Prevent the Summer Slide – Ways to Keep Kids Sharp This Summer

Educators say the best way to avoid the summer slide is to keep kids' minds moving.  Here are a few ways to do that...

Have you heard of the summer slide? while visions of a giant water slide may come to mind, it’s actually referring to the summertime break from school where kids aren’t actively learning.  Studies show too much of a gap can put kids at a disadvantage.  Student achievement scores decline over summer vacation by one month’s worth of school-year-learning.   Educators say the best way to avoid the slide is to keep their minds moving.  Here are a few ways to do that.  Organize outdoor activities such as hiking trails, bird watching, and fishing. encourage learning new skills, and crafts.  Indulge in creative expressions by encouraging your child to start a blog, a diary, or direct a short story.  Don’t discount the stories and reels they can create with social media. Those can be used as a form of storytelling.  Shooting and editing video are fully engaging your mind and creativity.