Prevent the dreaded ‘summer brain drain’ and give your kids a head start this summer.

School is over and summer break has begun, time for your kids to relax and enjoy a summer of leisure. But did you know that on average, summer leads to the loss of two months worth of grade level math and reading skills? This is commonly known as ‘summer brain drain’ and can put children behind for the upcoming school year.

You can prevent summer brain drain by encouraging your kids to continue learning during the summer. No I don’t mean math worksheets and book reports; summer is the perfect time for kids to realize that learning isn’t limited to the classroom. For example, if you are going to the zoo or aquarium one weekend, have your child research their favorite animal the week before and they can tell you everything they learned while you are there.

Depending on your child’s age they could plant a garden; this can be a family activity as well. They can learn about seeds and food comes from; plus this is an easy way to exercise during the summer. You can plant a garden in your backyard, or get together with other families in your neighborhood and start a community garden.

Going to a summer barbeque? Have your child help you bake cupcakes to bring, not only is this fun and tasty, but it’s also a great way to have your child work on measurements and reading directions. Pick up some food coloring and let them get creative with the frosting.

A great way to help foster reading skills is to encourage your kids to start a neighborhood book club. Depending on their ages, kids can organize this on their own or you can help get them started. Let the children choose what books they want to ready, and allow then to hang out and play together afterwards. Books that have been made into movies allow them to compare and note any differences between the two.

Another great way to improve math skills is to teach your kids about money. Have them open a savings account at your local credit union. They can track any money they deposit and learn how to keep a ledger book. At the end of the summer they can use some of that money to purchase something for the new school year.

Preventing the dreaded summer brain drain doesn’t mean summer can’t be fun. These are just a few of the ways that you can help learning be fun and more relaxed than it might be in a school environment.