Playgrounds may not be the only place your kids experience a “slide” this summer. Whether you call it the “summer slide” or “brain drain,” children often fall behind without any academic learning during the summer months.
While a break from the mental taxation of school is needed, studies show kids can lose up to two months of their knowledge and skills between school grades. A child’s learning not only stagnates during this time, but a significant amount of the knowledge gained from the previous school year could also dissipate. To make matters worse, kids who languish in the summer will almost always have trouble getting started when the new school year begins.
It’s important to remember, the brain is like any other muscle and needs a regular dose of exercise to stay strong. Consider how motivated and great we feel when we work out regularly. After taking off a few months from exercising, however, it’s easy to lose our motivation and our confidence may slip. Then, when we get over that hump and start exercising again, we often lose endurance and speed.
The same thing happens to kids after a long break from exercising their mind. They may lose confidence, motivation and skills. What may seem like simply taking two months off can easily slide into four months of lost progress and difficulty getting back into the routine.
School is becoming progressively more challenging each year. Since students have more free time in the summer, it is a fantastic opportunity to get ahead. Kids that continue learning throughout the summer have an academic advantage that can catapult them into the new school year.
Now is an exciting time to meet with Cindy McVay, the Kumon instructor in Issaquah Highlands, to discuss a summer study plan to gain momentum and prepare for the upcoming school year.
Schedule a free assessment and orientation at Kumon Issaquah Highlands.
