In the heat of the summer, it can be hard for families to think about school. But, the reality is that when we don’t think about education over the summer, we miss an opportunity to help our kids stay on track, prepare for school and get ahead before the school year.
Although summer signals the traditional break from school, our kids’ brains and bodies don’t take a break from developing over the summer months. Studies show that 80 percent of brain development happens before the age of five, making the summer months a critical stage in the development of three and four year olds’ minds.
Unfortunately for kids across the nation, summer often represents a gap in learning. Many in the education community refer to this as “summer learning loss” or “summer learning slide.”
The Wallace Foundation, a national philanthropy that seeks to improve education and enrichment for disadvantaged children, released a report last week that stated, “loss of knowledge and educational skills during the summer months is cumulative over the course of a student’s career.”
Parents need to take advantage of the summer to not only boost their young children’s academic and social development but also to ensure that they don’t fall behind their classmates. This can be done in the home by engaging their three and four year olds in simple activities that stimulate their brains.
As a parent myself, I know the importance of reading with your kids. Incorporating reading into your nightly routine sets your child on the path to learning letters, new words and phrases and enhances their ability to think critically. (Not only that, it also provides you with an important opportunity to bond with your child.) Read a book with them and allow them to guess what will happen at the end or create their own ending. Take a look at sentences and words in the book and have them find the letter “a.”
You can also easily practice counting with your kids. Every day there are opportunities to help your child learn to count. In the car, practice counting red lights as you stop at them. Or count to three every time you stop at a stop sign. You can also have your child set the table and count out the number of forks, knives and spoons before you eat dinner.
As always, we encourage you to play with your kids all summer. Preschool-age children love to pretend. Play pretend games where each of you takes on a role. Help your child to imagine how his/her character might feel or react as you play. Let your child be the “boss” and guide your character. This stimulates your child’s brain and imagination. It also helps them to develop empathy, patience and self-control.
We’re fortunate that Denver is the home of top-notch cultural facilities that we can share with our children. From the Children’s Museum and the Museum of Nature and Science to the Denver Art Museum and Denver Zoo, our city is ripe for exploring.
Although these activities seem simple, their impact on our children runs deep. Three and four year olds are building the foundation for their academic careers as they explore, play and interact with you. This time of life marks the foundation for their academic career.
Don’t miss your opportunity to help your child get ahead over the summer. Engaged parents and caregivers can ensure that our children keep learning year-round.
Eileen Piper is the acting CEO of the Denver Preschool Program, a not-for-profit organization that helps Denver families pay for high-quality preschool across the city and offers funding to local preschool programs to improve their quality.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.
