Positive Parenting: Ensure your kids don’t lose learning momentum this summer
by Will Bower
The air is warmer and the days are longer, which means the end of the school year is coming! This change can be joyful for students but can also bring challenges. Here are some ideas for young people to make the most of the summer months. Find a couple that fit your child and family.
Stay academically engaged
Did you know that students can actually lose learning progress over the summer months? Avoid the learning loss of summer by continuing to develop a love of learning. For those who struggled, school administrators or counselors will be contacting you to keep your child heading toward their learning and graduation goals.
Whether you excelled academically or struggled this school year, learning opportunities are all around to keep your mind growing this summer. For most students, the Stockbridge Library has access to lots of books, magazines, music, movies, and more! A variety of websites can assist youth in making progress with their reading, typing, math, science and other skills. If transportation and cost is not a problem, summer camps and activities are also available for a variety of interests. This list from Ingham Intermediate School District is quite extensive: www.inghamisd.org/thelatest/events/summer-learning-opportunities/).
Earn some money
Students can learn valuable lessons by learning the value of their work. For the entrepreneurial minded, students can start their own business weeding and mowing, babysitting, dog walking, car washing. Get creative. What help do your trusted neighbors need? For those looking to work for someone else, local fast food restaurants or other businesses are obvious places to start out. The benefits of a summer job can be as simple as earning some spending cash, but these jobs can also help students learn responsibility and organization and planning skills.
Stay active
Summer is a great time to get into a regular habit of physical activity. The cool mornings are great for hiking, biking, or trail running. Twenty minutes of aerobic activity has been shown to have mental and physical benefits. Starting slow and building up gradually are some keys to developing a lifelong enjoyment of exercise. If exercising on your own does not seem interesting, call some friends or family to play an active game outside. Or, you can see what is available at the Wellness Center or Stockbridge Community Schools Community Education.
Make a difference
When students recognize a need and help others, they develop a sense of purpose, connection, and capability. Students can make a difference at home, in the neighborhood, and in the community. Stockbridge Community Outreach is a local organization that may have opportunities for youth (www.stockbridgecommunityoutreach.org/). Local faith-based organizations are also a good place to make a difference.
Grow Something
Learning how to cultivate flowers and plants can be enjoyable and rewarding. Admittedly, growing certain flowers, fruits, and vegetables may require a bit of knowledge to keep them from being gobbled up by pesky critters and to ensure plants get just the right amounts of sunshine and water. Planting something in a place it can thrive has the potential to teach children about patience, caring, and harvesting (i.e., cause and effect). The Stockbridge library has some books, magazines and seeds to help you get started. Local stores, the internet, or a neighbor with a green thumb also may have suggestions.
Music and Arts
Research at the NIH’s National Library of Medicine indicates that performing music increases mental function and health. A variety of methods are available for learning, including books, online options, and local teachers. Fine or performing arts connect us with culture, help us express ourselves, require a level of skill and discipline, and can just be fun!
This is just the beginnings of a long list of ways to to keep learning this summer. I encourage you and your family to discuss some of these options, then get out and enjoy the summer together!
Will Bower (M.Ed., M.A.) is a school counselor at the Stockbridge Jr/Sr High School. He works to support students and families with alternative education and support interventions.
Will Bower
Students can enjoy summer but continue to develop a love of learning to avoid the knowledge loss that can accompany these vacation months. Photo credit: Alexis Brown at unsplash.com
Research indicates that performing music increases mental function and health. Photo credit: Robert Collins at unsplash.com
