Prevent Summer Brain Drain

During the summer months, students may experience what is commonly referred to as “summer brain drain.” This is when a loss of learned skills or lack of motivation to learn occurs. Because many students are not in school during summer months, they may not be using their brain as much. This inactivity is what causes summer brain drain. When essential skills are not practiced, they can be forgotten. There are many activities parents can do with kids to help keep summer brain drain at bay.

To prevent summer brain drain, it is a good idea to make sure something is being learned every day during the summer vacation. To do this, one thing that parents can do is to be sure that kids are reading every day. Reading is essential in keeping the brain active. Be creative with the reading. Choose reading materials that involve other lessons and skills, such as math and science. Reading material also does not always have to be a children's book.

Children need to read books often and at their level, but they can read other things as well. Let children read ingredients on food packages in the store, travel brochures for a family trip, and even instructions to put together a summer toy. Not only will the child feel special that parents trust him or her with these tasks, but it is a fun way to sneak in some reading practice and help combat that summer brain drain.

In addition, parents may choose to prevent summer brain drain with tutoring or a summer math course. Reading and math can both slip during the summer months, often due to summer brain drain. Math skills especially suffer. Online summer math programs are a great way for a child to practice math skills. Many times, such programs can be designed around what a child has learned or what will be learned in the upcoming school year.

Whether a child is attending homeschool or a traditional institution, tutoring can be beneficial. Online math programs also can be very convenient, due to the flexibility factor. Summer vacation may be filled with various extracurricular and family activities. Online programs can give a child the chance to have fun, while still taking time out to learn as well.

Discuss your child's goals and needs with instructors or coordinators of any summer math programs you are considering. There should be someone knowledgeable enough to determine how best to help prevent summer brain drain. Each child is different and a good program will recognize that.