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Summer is finally here! Packed lunches and early morning rushes can be put on pause for now. For many parents, that’s a reason to rejoice! But along with the excitement of starting another fun summer with your child, you may also feel some trepidation. Like many parents, you’re probably racking your brain to determine the best summer activity for your child. 

Summer vacation is a time for children to relax and enjoy themselves, right? Well, yes, but many experts believe that it’s essential for children to continue learning during the summer months. Education research shows that students who don’t participate in summer learning programs can lose academic progress. This loss is often referred to as the “summer slide.”

Imagination helps children learn about the world around them, expand their ideas, and problem-solve. The better their imagination is, the more readily they can understand complex community and social concepts. Although educators and researchers haven’t always understood the role of creativity in learning, experts are continually uncovering how this childhood behavior helps us grow.

When you help your child with math homework, you may frequently remind them to show their work. In fact, if you remember your childhood, you may have lost a few points on your own math homework for failing to show your work. Although math teachers have a good reason for the policy of demonstrating processes, mastering mental math is also essential to solving problems with greater ease and accuracy, thereby improving math grades. 

When most kids think about summer, they imagine popsicles, trips to the beach, and playing with friends. They’ve worked hard the entire school year and deserve time off as a reward for their hard work. Teachers will also enjoy their time out of the classroom. But as the summer closes, they’ll imagine the next school year’s start and the effects of the summer slide on student readiness.