WJBC Forum – Education Doesn’t End When Summer begins

Children pick out their free books during a summer program. The children are enrolled in either the year-round Head Start Early Literacy or School-Age programs. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

Yes summer time is finally here and all the young people in our communities are looking forward to the next several weeks with excitement and anticipation. Their days will be filled with trips to mall, splashing at the local pool, playing ball with friends but most of all no school and no homework. Summer should be filled with leisure activities and family vacations. But any teacher would tell you that it is also a time when all the hard work they and your child have done during the school year will be for naught if parents don’t so something about it. Let me suggest some ideas that might help.

First encourage your child to read over the summer. Both the Bloomington and Normal Public libraries have great summer reading programs which families can take advantage of. Have your child pick out a book they can take to the park, beach or pool. For younger children, now would be a great time to start a reading series. Novels such as Little House on the Prairie, The Wizard of Oz and several others are ones you can read together with your child.

Remember how you would ask yourself in math class if you would ever use this information in the real world? Well summer is also a time you can help you child keep those skills honed as well. When they get their allowance and want to spend it all on candy or that favorite CD, go to the store with them. Using math at the cash register is another way to give them the experience they need while at the same time making it fun.

When you are planning that family trip make your kids part of the process so they keep up with those geography skills. Get the atlas out as well as the encyclopedia so they can learn more about the place you are going. For day trips in the car get them a small notebook they can keep track of the miles you travel.

Get your son or daughter a journal. As they enjoy the fun of summer have them write about it. It will come in handy when they return to school in the fall and are asked to write about what they did over their summer break.

Yes this summer let your kids be kids. Let them have the fun that only summer vacation can bring. But you can also help them retain those skills that their teachers worked so hard to give this last school year. Your child’s teacher will thank you and in the long run so will your child.

This has been Matt Drat on WJBC’s Forum.

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Matt Drat is a public communications professional in the central Illinois area. Best known for his work in the creative arts community and McLean County Toys for Tots, Matt and his wife Jenifer have lived in Bloomington for over 20 years. Matt graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelors Degree in Theater. Matt and Jenifer have two grown children, Collin and Marisa. Matt is involved in the drama and children’s ministries at Vale Community Church.

The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Townsquare Media.