3 Ways to Avoid Summer Brain Drain
When the last bell rings for the year, all the kids are getting anxious to go home and start their largest lego set, binge-watch their favorite shows, and play with their friends. The season of summer brings everyone’s excitement and energy out.
Yet, for parents, the last day of school is also the season of stress. Where am I going to find consistent childcare? How do I cover childcare gaps? What summer activities should my child participate in? How do I avoid my child from getting brain drain? And particularly this summer, how do I prepare my kids to return to school full time? The questions are endless.
Summer brain drain is a commonly used term to describe a lack of learning during the summer months. But did you know there are ways to avoid summer brain drain? Let us walk you through 3 ways to combat learning loss.
1) Hire an Enrichment Leader
Enrichment providers are college-educated and have had tutoring or teaching experiences in different subjects.
These super-sitters can work through fun, academic practice books (like our personal favorite series Summer Bridge Activities) during the session and can also help kids stay on track of their summer reading. Check out Imagination Soup’s 2021 Reading List by grade level.
Sitters can also take the kids to explore the great outdoors, start a garden, catch different bugs, play at the park, and eat new foods on a picnic in the city. This will allow your kids to have hands-on learning ‘field trip days’ and variety!
Check out different events happening in the city this summer to help you planning ahead.
2) Summer Learning Pods
Learning pods have been popular throughout COVID-19, and they are continuing to be popular by demand! Introduce a summer learning pod to your neighbors, friends, or classmates.
A learning pod not only keeps your kids engaged throughout the summertime with their peers, but it also makes great childcare affordable! Whether it's working on Summer Bridge Books together or writing and acting out a play, it’s always more fun learning while hanging out with friends.
For our NYC families, if you want to be matched to another family, we’re still coordinating childcare pods.
3) Summer School
New York City DOE is offering its FREE Summer Rising Program for K-8 graders!
A revamp of traditional summer school programs, Summer Rising was designed to provide a bridge to the next school year. According to the site, “students will address unfinished learning while being provided avenues for recreation, exploration, and fun.”
Another way to keep the kids engaged and enrich the brain is to join a summer camp. From dance, filmmaking, theater, art camps, STEM and so much more.
Easing Back to School with Success
There is always a 1-2 week gap between the end of summer programs and the start of school. Book a camp-to-school transition sitter now and use that time to help your kids start the new school year strong. Go through basic math skills, cram in some last summer reading and refresh writing skills, or just simply relearning how to sit still for more than 20 mins!
Use these last few weeks to help your kids explore what they like to accomplish for the new year. Different expectations can include:
Make it onto the honor roll
Try out for a new sport
Sign up for an after school activity
Take up an instrument
Ace the spelling bee
These summer months come and go like a blink of an eye, but with these options, summer can be made full of fun and learning while also preparing for the upcoming school year!