SALT LAKE CITY — For most families, summertime is a break from schedules and homework, but several studies have shown that a long break from school exacerbates summer learning loss in kids, especially in mathematics and literacy. Each study varies regarding which age and socioeconomic brackets are scholastically hurt the most by summer break, but all seem to agree that summer learning loss is lessened for elementary and junior high students if part of their summer is spent learning.

While some parents enroll their children in expensive summer learning camps, a 2017 Harvard article showed that the most successful way to stem summer learning loss is for learning experiences to be implemented by families.

The following are some ideas of how families can more easily help kids learn, while hopefully still enjoying a memorable summer together.

Literacy resources

DOGOBooks: While reading is great, writing about what’s been read helps with retention and sharpens writing skills. DOGO encourages kids to write book reviews and then enters each review in a drawing for summer prizes.

Barnes and Noble: After kids read eight books and fill out a short form, they can turn it in at any Barnes and Noble store for a free book.

Sylvan Book Adventure: After kids read any of the listed 15,000 book titles, they can take quizzes and study vocabulary to earn virtual prizes. While some quizzes are free, most require a paid membership.

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Local libraries: Many local libraries hold summer reading challenges, complete with prizes. Contact your local library to see what they’re doing to encourage kids to read this summer.

Chuck E. Cheese: Set a reading goal, fill out a Chuck E. Cheese’s Reward Calendar and bring it to any Chuck E. Cheese for 10 free game tokens.

United Way (Weber and Box Elder counties): Attend one of its Books in the Park programs to receive a free book and popsicle for each child.

Just read: Plop down on the couch and just read together. If life gets busy, assign an older sibling to read to the younger one, or check out books on CD from your library.

Math resources

In the kitchen: Encourage kids to use their math skills in real life by figuring out how to double or halve recipes.

While traveling: Summer road trips mean hours spent in the car. Have kids use their math skills by figuring out how many miles or hours are left to travel, or how many miles will be covered in the next 15, 30 or 60 minutes. Add other components like telling time and counting mile markers for younger ones.

Games: During family game night, take the extra time to let a child be the banker and count out everyone’s change, or let them add up their own dice rolls. For younger children, games that use blocks and puzzles can help them with spatial reasoning.

Lemonade and cookie stands: Let the kids set up that stand they’ve been begging for. Then when the customers come, also let them be in charge (with a little oversight if needed) of counting out the change.

Life of Fred: Consider purchasing a few of the Life of Fred books. Humorously written, kids might not even realize they’re learning about math while being entertained.

Other ideas

Nature walks: Print off one of the many free nature scavenger huntsfound online and talk about the items discovered.

Stargazing: Find a certified dark sky park and enjoy hands-on learning at night.

Encourage research: Have kids research a zoo animal before a visit and watch how their experience deepens when they see their researched choice up close. Or, if embarking on a vacation, have kids study one of the soon-to-be visited places or sites before leaving.

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Khan Academy for Kids: This site covers all sorts of subjects. While the Android and Apple apps are geared toward the younger crowd, the website goes much farther, even covering AP subjects for the older audience. Both apps and website are free.

Other apps and websites: The internet is full of learning apps and websites. Try a few to see which can best help your kids spend time this summer enjoying learning.

Comment below on other ideas to help kids retain learning throughout the summer and fight the summer learning loss.

Elizabeth Reid thinks the Great Depression is fascinating, so she earned bachelor's degrees in both economics and history. A wife and mother, she blogs at agoodreid.blogspot.com.

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