Help Your Child Retain All They Learned in School

Summer vacation is quickly approaching us all. We all want our kids to have fun, but if you want to give them a leg up for next school year, you know they need to do some reenforcement learning over the summer.Today's guest post has some wonderful ideas to help you do just that! We'll be using many of Robin's suggestions ourselves! I hope you find them helpful too!


Help Your Child Retain All They Learned in School

You just spent 9 or 10 months encouraging, guiding and studying with your child as they strive to learn new skills and concepts (are you as worn out as we are?). They have learned to read, add, subtract and so much more! You are so proud of the progress that your little one has made! Now, how do help your child retain all that he has learned?



Over summer vacation students lose on average 2.6 months of learning in math alone. WOW. Reading has some varying results; low income students may lose up to 2 months of learning, while medium income students may actually gain performance. Helping your child retain information learned in the previous school year doesn’t mean your summer needs to be taken up with hours of worksheets, just 20 to 40 minutes a day is sufficient. Use these strategies at home to help your child retain, even gain in academic performance.

1. Workbooks are one of the easiest ways to help your child stay fresh. You can pick up a couple of these workbooks at a local school supply store or bookstore. Purchase workbooks that support what your child has been learning. It’s a good idea to get a math workbook and a reading comprehension workbook that is on your child’s level. I picked some up at our local Salvage Store for $3 a piece- I picked up a varied selection so Kiddo wouldn't get bored, and I wouldn't have to hear "not THAT book again!".


2. There are a number of websites for summer learning use. You can print free worksheets for your child to use. There are free websites with online games, activities and workable problems. Just type the subject matter into your search bar, such as “free math worksheets” or “free reading activities”. Your child doesn’t have to sit at the computer for hours everyday. As a parent, monitor each session to make sure your child is doing an activity or playing a game that is on their level. Keep the sessions short, perhaps alternating math and reading on different days. We have a new Caillou learning program that we're going to let Kiddo do for 20-30 minutes a day. That way it's FUN and she thinks she's playing a game, not learning!


3. Visit the library, it’s free! The library sounds “old school” but is still a great place to find material for your child to read. Borrow fiction books, autobiographies, science experiment books or a kid’s cooking book. Trying new things is always fun! Read the books together or do science experiment as a family. Not only have you had great family time, your child will retain or increase his reading skills.Borders has a reading program going this summer, as does Barnes and Noble. Use them as an incentive to get the kids to go to the library and read!

It is important to use your resources to help your child retain what they learned. It can be frustrating for your child to begin a new school year lacking information and skills learned in the previous school year. Help your child be prepared!

Robin Greene is a kindergarten teacher and a mom to two teenagers. She has used these strategies for many years. During her free time she also writes for My Baby Clothes dot com. Dress your little ones for success in their adorable baby clothes, baby hats, baby headbands and much more.