Prevent Summer Brain Drain

During the summer months, students mayto sneak in some reading practice and help
experience what is commonly referred to ascombat that summer brain drain.
“summer brain drain.” This is when a loss 
of learned skills or lack of motivation to learnIn addition, parents may choose to prevent
occurs. Because many students are not in schoolsummer brain drain with tutoring or a summer
during summer months, they may not be usingmath course. Reading and math can both slip
their brain as much. This inactivity is what causesduring the summer months, often due to summer
summer brain drain. When essential skills are notbrain drain. Math skills especially suffer. Online
practiced, they can be forgotten. There are manysummer math programs are a great way for a
activities parents can do with kids to help keepchild to practice math skills. Many times, such
summer brain drain at bay.programs can be designed around what a child
 has learned or what will be learned in the
To prevent summer brain drain, it is a good ideaupcoming school year.
to make sure something is being learned every 
day during the summer vacation. To do this, oneWhether a child is attending homeschool or a
thing that parents can do is to be sure that kidstraditional institution, tutoring can be beneficial.
are reading every day. Reading is essential inOnline math programs also can be very
keeping the brain active. Be creative with theconvenient, due to the flexibility factor. Summer
reading. Choose reading materials that involvevacation may be filled with various extracurricular
other lessons and skills, such as math and science.and family activities. Online programs can give a
Reading material also does not always have to bechild the chance to have fun, while still taking time
a children's book.out to learn as well.
  
Children need to read books often and at theirDiscuss your child's goals and needs with
level, but they can read other things as well. Letinstructors or coordinators of any summer math
children read ingredients on food packages in theprograms you are considering. There should be
store, travel brochures for a family trip, and evensomeone knowledgeable enough to determine
instructions to put together a summer toy. Nothow best to help prevent summer brain drain.
only will the child feel special that parents trustEach child is different and a good program will
him or her with these tasks, but it is a fun wayrecognize that.