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How to Stop Summer Slide in Its Tracks

Posted on Jun 29, 2017

Most kids are more concerned about jumping around Monkey Joe’s this summer than maintaining last year’s school lessons. But parents know that inflatable slides aren’t the only ones kids are slipping down this summer. Summer slide, aka “brain drain”, is a big problem for kids over the break. Kids can lose up to one month of education over the break. So what can parents do to stop the slide?

4 Fun Ways to Stop Summer Slide

1. Cook together. Cooking isn’t just a fun bonding activity. It’s a hands-on science experiment, a sneaky math lesson, and a way to teach the kids about eating healthy, all rolled into one.  Have the kids help make lunch, or bake together and give the goodies to your new neighbor.
2. Explore the world around you. Whether you’re hunting for signs of wildlife in your backyard or exploring local history at the museum, there’s a world of knowledge right outside your door. Identify the various plants and insects in your family garden, learn more about local history, and have your child keep a notebook of your findings.
3. Read everything. Is it raining? Explore a sunny world in a fiction book. Is your child obsessed with space? Read about famous the astronauts, engineers, and scientists who built the foundation of the space program. If your kids are too young to read, you can learn The Alphabet Song or have daily story time.
4. Get moving. Are you preparing for your child’s first day of kindergarten, first grade, or second grade? It’s not all mental prep. Bouncing around Monkey Joe’s St. Louis can help kids de-stress, giving their brains a well-deserved break so they’re ready to learn again. Take advantage of summer playtime while you can!