Five Ways to Keep Your Kids Learning All Summer Long

January 21, 2016

Research shows the importance of summer learning to educational advancement, yet many communities offer limited or no summer learning programs. Parents desiring to keep their kids learning all summer long must find alternatives.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of ways to keep kids learning during the summer, even without a local summer learning program. They may require some extra planning from parents, but they are affordable and accessible in most communities.

We’ve developed a shortlist of activities and resources for parents to use when developing their own summer learning activities:

  1. Read to your children, or encourage your children to read books recommended by their teachers, your local library and online summer reading lists. Sign up for your library’s Summer Reading Program, which offers incentives for summertime reading.
  2. Visit free local learning resources in your community that are entertaining, educational and close to home, such as libraries, parks, museums, universities and recreation centers.
  3. Play fun math and word games that turn everyday household activities into learning opportunities. For example, have your kids add up prices at the grocery store and challenge them to tally up the final bill. When going on drives, ask them to look for certain shapes, colors, letters or words on billboards and signs.
  4. Ask your children’s teachers to recommend engaging, grade-appropriate educational activities that you can easily access online and download for free.
  5. Get moving and get healthy. Turn off the TV, computer and video games (or at least put limits on screen time) and keep your kids moving with physical activities that also encourage learning. For example, organize a scavenger hunt that leads them around a local playground, park or museum.

Similar Resources

  • Diving Into Summer Learning ProgramsDecember 11, 2017 - 11:49 pm

    Summer learning programs are distinctively different from traditional summer school programs. For Nazaneen Khalilnaji-Otto, the Summer Matters campaign director at the Partnership for Children and Youth, one word sums up the difference between the summer learning model and summer school: “fun.” Summer learning takes on a “camp-like culture,” and these programs are generally open to all students, rather than only students seeking remedial or advanced coursework.

  • Last Chance to Nominate a Summer SuperheroSeptember 20, 2017 - 9:21 pm

    Do you know a Superintendent who has demonstrated extraordinary support for summer learning programs during the time between September 2016-September 2017? Can you help us find and celebrate this superhero? Summer Matters is looking for nominations for our Superhero award, given each year to California Superintendents who make summer learning matter in their districts.

  • 2017 Summer Matters Road Trip Media CoverageAugust 25, 2017 - 10:31 pm

    The Summer Matters Road Trip was huge this year! We traveled to programs in 15 different cities, spreading the word about the importance of summer learning. But don’t take our word for it, check out the media coverage of several of the stops on the road trip.