National Summer Learning Day—July 12

Summer is a time when kids relax and recharge their batteries for the coming school year. On the downside, it's often accompanied by 'summer slide'—a loss in knowledge and academic skills. In the fall, teachers typically spend six weeks (or longer) revisiting material that students covered the previous year, just to bring them up to speed. How can parents help their kids retain learning, and still provide the relaxation they need?

With a little planning, parents can structure a summer vacation that balances work and play. Here are some ideas:

• Learning camps are a great way for kids to have fun and stay intellectually engaged. From crafts to computers, there's a camp for every avocation. And since many cities offer free or low-cost camps, more families can take advantage.

• Plan family outings to museums, zoos, and cultural attractions. Nearly every major city has a natural history museum—a perennial favorite with kids. Also, exploratoriums offer the allure of hands-on fun while teaching science.

• Make regular trips to the public library. If they don't already have them, get library cards for all family members—and use them often. Let children see that reading for pleasure, as well as information, is an important part of your life. You can use our reading lists to choose books that will keep kids turning those pages!

  • Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children
  • Kids' Top 100 Books
  • Asian-American Booklist
  • Spanish/English Bilingual Booklist
  • 50 Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know
  • Celebrity Book Picks
  • 50 State Booklist
  • Youth Leaders for Literacy Booklist
  • Native American Booklist
  • African American Booklist
  • Authors' Favorites Booklist
    

• Introduce kids to educational Web sites that can help keep their skills sharp. Check out the American Library Association's links to Great Web Sites for Kids.

For more information on National Summer Learning Day, and about keeping kids engaged in learning throughout the summer, visit www.summerlearning.org/summerlearningday/.