What can you do to prevent your kids from struggling in school next year?

A few years ago, a mom I was working with (she was in one of my SuperMom GPS groups), shared how frustrated she felt at the beginning of every school year. She shared with me that despite the newly sharpened pencils, the well-stocked school bag, and the many weeks of awesome summer experiences, her children would struggle to get back to the academic level they were on at the end of the previous year...just a few short weeks before.

She asked "what am I doing wrong?", and when most of the other moms said that they too contended with this year after year, we decided to do something about it! And so we added something else to our never-ending to-do list.

I know that paradoxically, when the entire world is on vacation, for working moms it feels as if we are actually working overtime! We expect ourselves to be summer supermoms, not letting any of our work obligations slip, while making the most of the endless, hot, sunny moments with our kids.

So, why am I bringing up the issue of summer slide? Don’t we have enough pressure during these summer weeks, without this??

Well, I figured that if we are stressed out anyway, we might as well know what we and our children are dealing with. And maybe we can find a way to sprinkle in some vitally important, fun! activities with our kids during the hours we do spend together, that will benefit their academic, personal and financial future.? Doesn’t that sound like a win-win plan??

I think most of you would agree that for most busy moms, balancing career and family life is never?easy. But, despite the added pressure of these long summer weeks (you know, where you feel super guilty for not creating those everlasting summer memories with your kids, and maybe you come to the conclusion that you really don’t? like little hands sticky from ice cream, leaving palm prints on your glass sliding doors?) you can keep your child's academic growth steady through the summer!

And if your children haven't started school yet, you can integrate these fun ideas into their schedules, so that they can start kindergarten way ahead of the game!

Many of us get overwhelmed when thinking about what to do about this dreaded "summer slide" - a tumble in our kids' academic skills during the school-free months, leading to a loss equivalent to two months of grade-level in math and reading skills, according to the National Summer Learning Association.

What do we know about the inevitable summer slide??

Younger children, particularly those in early elementary grades, are susceptible to summer learning loss because they are at a crucial stage in their development where newly acquired skills need consistent reinforcement.

As noted by James Kim, an education professor at Harvard University, "In general, kids learn a lot more in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade than kids in middle school or high school, because learning follows a curve where it's accelerated early in life and then plateaus"

But even more upsetting, are the statistics that show that over 80% of fifth and sixth graders lose a significant amount of their math skills during the summer months, and that more than two-thirds of the reading achievement gap in 9th grade can be traced back to cumulative summer learning loss during the elementary years. Ouch!!

We all realize that the lack of structured learning environments (aka school!), the almost zero daily practice and reinforcement of regular reading, writing, and other academic activities, and the specific developmental stages your children are at, all contribute to the unfortunate decline in skills.

And although there are those who are skeptical about the impact of the yearly summer slide, everyone agrees that parental involvement during these summer weeks plays a crucial role in mitigating the negative results when schoolwork is not top of mind for children.?

So, what can you do differently this summer?

Here are 5 key tips that will help prevent learning loss for your kids during summer break:

1. Daily Reading Fun ??

Turn bedtime into a magical story adventure. Maybe your son or daughter is into Harry Potter? If so, crack open 'The Sorcerer's Stone' and take a journey to Hogwarts together, or a zany Dr. Seuss rhyme for the littler ones. Not only will they be captivated by the stories, but they'll be building crucial reading skills. The main point is that you encourage them to choose a book they want to read. You'll be amazed to see how their reading fluency and comprehension skills soar. ?

Outcome - Improved reading skills, enriched vocabulary, and a lifelong love for reading.

2. Cooking or Baking Together ??

Use recipes to practice measuring, fractions, and time management. Ask questions like "W" to encourage mathematical thinking.? You can even help your kids to create their own recipe book, where they can include pictures, descriptions on when and why they created these culinary masterpieces.

Outcome - Improved math skills, and when documenting recipes, they get bonus writing skills practice!?

3. Family Game Nights ??

Ever tried playing 'Scrabble' or 'Ticket to Ride' on a chill summer evening? These games aren’t just tons of fun. They also help reinforce language and strategic thinking skills. Plus, who can resist a friendly family competition??

Outcome - Your child gets better at problem-solving while enjoying family bonding moments.

4. Experiential Learning ??

Ever thought about starting a mini backyard garden with the kids? They can learn about plant life cycles, soil types, the importance of sunlight? and water while getting their hands a little muddy. They'll be learning science and maybe even grow dinner's salad!

Outcome - Your child gains a deeper understanding of the natural world and develops scientific curiosity.

5. Journal Journey ??

How about a cool DIY summer scrapbook project? Encourage your kids to jot down fun things they do, like that impromptu ice cream outing, or epic water balloon battle. This hands-on project will boost their writing skills and create lasting memories!

Outcome - Enhanced writing skills, boosted self-expression, and a unique summer memoir.

So, let's sprinkle some learning magic over this summer and make it the best one yet.?Now you know how to beat the 'summer slide' with fun learning hacks for your kids.

No matter what their marks will be in the upcoming school year, you will have created those precious “mommy and me” times that make being a parent the most rewarding job in the world.?

Please share this newsletter with other parents you know who might enjoy tips on how to simplify being a supermom! Thanks.