Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • April 11, 2012 As any parent knows, kids look forward to summer. Children commonly greet time off from school with open arms, while educators and parents may find the arrival of summer vacation more bittersweet. According to the National Summer Learning Association, research going back a century has indicated that children score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer than they do at the beginning of summer. A recent study indicated most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months. Though teachers appreciate the break from classes and Summer provides opportunities to further education parents understand their kids need time to play, educators and parents alike are concerned by how to keep kids’ minds engaged over the summer while still allowing them the opportunity to be kids on summer vacation. The following tips can help kids stay sharp and enjoy themselves this summer. Find a camp or enrichment program your child will enjoy. The benefits from a specialized camp or enrichment program will last into the next school year, and can extend well into the future. Perhaps your child will discover a future career path. Read to children and encourage them to read as well. Summer reading lists used to be mandatory at many schools across the country. While that practice has largely fallen by the wayside, parents can read to their children and encourage children to read on their own. Another way to encourage kids to read involves doing so indirectly by setting an example. Many adults love to take a book outside during the summer months, whether they are relaxing on the front porch or reading at the beach. Let kids see you reading during your own free time, and they will be more likely to mimic that behavior. Subscribe to magazines and newspapers. Many of your own favorite periodicals likely have kids’ versions ideal for summer reading. Kids will look forward to receiving their monthly subscription in the mail and enjoy spending time poring over articles tailored to them and their favorite hobbies. Newspapers can also make for a great and daily source of reading material for kids. This can be a great way for kids to stay sharp and learn language and usage skills. Take the classroom outdoors. Kids might not like sitting in a classroom all day, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t like to learn. Summer provides a great opportunity for parents to take the classroom outdoors by visiting local parks, aquariums, zoos, and museums. At the local park, allow kids time to soak in the park’s history and identify plants and trees throughout the area. The same type of lessons can be taught at the aquarium or zoo, where kids can learn about marine biology and the animal kingdom. Encourage your child’s inner meteorologist. Summer is a season that can be a lesson all on its own. Though heat and humidity are most commonly associated with summer weather, the season also serves up a storm or two or even a drought. Parents can use these changes in climate as a chance to teach kids about the planet, explaining what’s happening during a lightning storm or how and why droughts occur. Kids who aren’t afraid of lightning will no doubt enjoy some storm watching over the summer, when lightning and thunder combine to make some beautiful sights. For more information about learning opportunities, visit the National Summer Learning Association Web site at www.summerlearning.org.