Three Ways Your Kids Can Avoid Learning Loss This Summer
(NC) School is now officially out and kids look forward to enjoying a well-deserved break from school in the summertime.
However, did you know kids can lose 25 to 50 percent of school-year learning gains during the summer months?
Fortunately, there are a few simple ways you can keep little ones’ minds engaged during the summer break. From science experiments to nature walks, here are three ways to help your kids continue learning outside the classroom . . .
Experiment With Science
Composting is a great hands-on science activity for kids. Teach them about the process of recycling garden clippings and food scraps to create rich soil for your garden. Kids’ conservation organization Earth Rangers has plenty of free educational activities and trivia on its app to keep kids’ minds stimulated all year long.
Plan Nature Scavenger Hunts
Organize a family nature walk and put together a checklist of insects, flowers and trees for kids to spot. When you get home, make sensory bins with items found while playing outside. This is a fun way to spark your child’s imagination by engaging their senses with sand, dirt, leaves and more.
Learning With Leftovers
Have your kids help in the kitchen by “upcooking” leftovers into a new meal. Do your part to cut down on food waste by making cooking fun and eco-friendly. Maple Leaf Foods’ All Taste, No Waste Cookbook, for example, has recipes that can be made using leftover ingredients. Find it at mapleleaffoods.com/cookbook. No matter what, make sure your kids have an amazing summer . . . it will be back to the regular routine in just a few short months.
PUBLISHER’s NOTE: Locally there are lots of organizations to keep your child entertained and still learn about the world we live in.
For one, Natural Pathways Learning Centre is a leading forest and nature school dedicated to providing immersive, nature-based education for children and adults alike. Its programs emphasize outdoor play, learning, and environmental stewardship, encouraging participants to form a deep, meaningful connection with the natural world. Learn more online.
The Ojibway Nature Centre in Windsor is another. Get more details on their activities here.
