They lose even more math skills than reading skills. Parents can stop the “summer brain drain” by doing these things:

• Keep lots of children’s books and magazines around. Make regular trips to the library.

• Find out what your child will be learning next year. (Ask teachers and parents of older children.) Then plan your family vacation and other summertime activities around it. For instance, if the class will be covering the civil war, visit a civil war museum, read a civil war book, or watch a civil war movie together.

• Regularly ask children to “do the math” when you go shopping, follow a recipe, or do other family activities. For ideas, get a book on fun family math activities.

• Consider summer school or getting a tutor for your child—if he’s had problems in math, reading or another subject.

• Sign your child up for children’s plays, nature center programs and other enrichment activities and classes offered by your school or community.
  

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