Keep Your Child's Skills Sharp Over the Summer

School's out!  Time for vacations, sleeping late, and having fun.  Unfortunately, this could also be a time for the "summer slide."  Your child has just spent an entire school year improving his reading skills or polishing her writing techniques.  With a few months of non-use, all of that hard work could be down the drain.  Don't let that happen to your child this summer.  Keep him or her involved in some educational activities.  It doesn't have to be drudgery; it can be lots of fun! 

Fabulous Fun with Reading:

Start a book group.  If your child loves to read, or especially if he doesn't, gather your child and a few of his friends and start a book group.  Have the kids choose the theme - something that really interests them.  Then, you can help them choose an appropriate book.  Look for activities, crafts, snacks, and games that are related to the theme.  Have weekly meetings and watch your child's love of reading grow right along with his reading skills.

Plan weekly library trips.  Make it a point to visit your local library every week.  Get a cool bag for your child and encourage her to fill it with books at each visit.  Keep the books in the bag so that they don't get mixed in with your child's personal collection.  Read the books to your child or with your child and let your child read to you, younger siblings, and even her stuffed animals!

Pick a theme, any theme!  Children in elementary school can really be motivated by a theme.  If your child loves pirates, find as many books about pirates as you can.  It's okay if some of the books are too hard; you can read those to your child.  However, do be sure that most of the books are on your child's independent reading level.  Include some easy ones, too, to boost your child's confidence.