Kids’ Brains Need Back-to-School Warm-Up

By:Orlando Clark

Parents helping a child prepare for that first post-summer-vacation reading quiz often find themselves wondering if he has forgotten everything he learned the year before. Research shows that the “summer brain-drain” phenomenon is no figment of the imagination. Over summer vacation, children can forget more than two months worth of school instruction.

“Research by experts verifies what parents and teachers have long known – over the three short months of summer vacation, most children forget a significant amount of what they learned during the previous school year,” says Ron Fairchild, executive director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Summer Learning.

In fact, Johns Hopkins research shows that teachers typically spend four to six weeks reteaching last year’s lessons. “Parents can help children stay in shape academically by making learning a year-round habit,” says Fairchild.

So how can parents help children keep their brains in top condition for back-to-school excellence?

“First, make it fun,” advises Wendy Bronfin, vice president of education and product development at Educate Products, makers of Hooked on Phonics, the brand that over 2 million families have turned to for teaching their children reading, math and study skills. “There are a lot of great ways to integrate learning into your everyday activities, even while on vacation. Summer is a great time to spend with your child and foster a lifelong love of reading.”

Bronfin suggests coaching your child through the following year-round fun brain exercises:

* Keep kids reading. Before school starts, help your child choose a short list of books to read. While you can suggest a book, author, series or subject you think your child might enjoy, let the child choose what he wants to read. Reinforce the idea that reading is fun.

* A library visit is a great way to occupy a rainy summer afternoon. Suggest that your child invite a friend. Make sure everyone in your library party checks out something new and begins reading it that day. Make trips to the public library a regular family outing!

* Help your child prepare for the inevitable “What I Did on Summer Vacation” report he’ll have to give when he returns to school. Before taking a family vacation, read with your child about the destination.

* Help your child look up online the lyrics to fun summer-themed songs. Kids find computers fun and the technology can be a great way to boost their interest in reading.

* With summer comes a host of children’s movies. Before you take your child to the latest hit, sit down with him and read the book version first. Then see the movie and discuss which version he liked best and why.

* Make reading aloud a family experience. At the end of a long summer day, take turns reading from a classic book the whole family can enjoy. Set aside a regular family read-aloud time, usually 20 to 30 minutes, or as long as it takes to read a certain number of pages or chapters. This can become a favorite family tradition.

* Demonstrate that reading is part of everyday life by encouraging your child to read things found on summer vacation, like a newspaper from a new town, travel magazines, barbecue recipes, maps and game instructions.

* Play games that encourage reading and learning, like the classic I Spy game or a letter-sound treasure hunt, during which you hide around the yard treats or toys that all begin with the same letter.

* Try an activity kit. The Hooked on Phonics Super Activity Kits are filled with hours of brain-building, fun activities. The kits use a DVD loaded with MP3 songs, music videos, cartoons and adventures with Lou the Hippo to help keep kids educationally active during the summer. Each kit includes an activity pad, write-on/wipe-off journal and special erasable crayons and stickers, all in a convenient resealable package. Hooked on Math products are also especially relevant since research shows summer learning loss is more pronounced with math.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Kids’ Brains Need Back-to-School Warm-Up

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Hooked on Phonics products can be found at participating retailers or online at www.hookedonphonics.com or www.amazon.com.

Editor’s Note: Hooked on Phonics and Hooked on Math are registered trademarks of Educate Products. - ARA

Top Children Articles
1). A National Holiday for Tolerance and Parenting (Part 1) By : Paul M. Jerard Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is explained in classrooms, to our children and grandchildren, in simplistic terms. Just this past week, I was surprised to listen to local children�s views on the subject. They explained discrimination with such acceptance that I just listened in amazement.
2). Your Preemie Is In The NICU - What Can You Do? By : Sjona Lindquist Your feelings are tied up in that tiny little preemie bundle, and you have a hard time comprehending this small, wrinkled resemblance of a baby that is attached to every conceivable contraption...could belong to you. But when your heart is broken in more places then you could ever dream possible, and waiting seems endless, you are harshly welcomed into the world of parenthood.
3). Health Tips For Your Baby By : Robin Darch There are always concerns about a baby�s health. Many parents overreact to the smallest problem, but you really can�t be too careful when it comes to your baby�s health. Recognizing the symptoms to the most common diseases is very important to early diagnosis and treatment. Rubella or German Measles: It�s sometimes referred to as the 3-day measles as well.
4). Learning To Apply Information By : Esther Andrews There are many definitions of intelligence, but the one I have learned in high school claimed that intelligence in nature is the ability of an animal or a human to use the information they have learned. I have also read about the idea that there are several levels of learning. The lowest level of learning, is just memorizing the material and being.
5). Kid Friendly Games By : Sandra Stammberger Kids love to mimic the adults in every whatever fashion that they see adults do. They see their elders tinker on computers; they'd love to bang on the computer as well. Parents would love nothing more than to indulge their kids in everything that could be useful to them. The dilemma that parents usually face is if the kid computer games that they are after are really kid friendly. So how can parents choose from among the hundreds of computer games that are circulating in the market?
6). Helpful Tips For Planning A Wonderful Baby Shower By : Susan Anderson A baby shower can be one of the most thoughtful gifts you can offer a new parent. Baby showers are a lot of fun, and can be a good first memory for the new parents. And of course, the obvious plus to the parents to be is all the great baby loot they get as well. Well planned baby showers can help save new parents a ton of money on baby necessities, often taking a lot of financial stress and worry away from them.
7). Baby Shower Ideas: Gifts To Consider Buying By : Jennifer Adair The time of planning a baby shower is a special one. An expecting mom could be the happiest person in the world should she give birth to a little angel. And in anticipation of the new baby, baby showers are commonly held about three months before the baby is born. It is possible to hold it after the baby is born. It has advantages in doing that plus it would be little easier selecting gifts if it were held after.
8). Baby bedding can be exciting to shop for By : Roger King Many baby bedding; quilts and blankets that you can find for your baby are made with polyester or acrylic, plastics that, when heated by the baby's body, can emit gases that irritate the baby's sensitive skin and eyes! As parents we understand how much you love your children and want the best for them. Walk into any baby supply store, or open any catalogue offering baby supplies, and you'll be hit with adorable baby bedding designs: bedding with tiny flowers; little animals; and Disney characters, stripes, zigzags, or bugs.
9). Three Kinds Of Baby Clothes By : Kirsten Hawkins When buying baby clothes parents are suddenly inundated with multiple choices that can become quite confusing. How many cute and adorable outfits does little Bill or Hillary need? How many �Onesie� body suits are enough? For little people that grow so quickly there are certainly a wide variety of clothing options, how does a new parent know what to get? To help settle the dilemma and answer these questions, parents need to keep in mind a simple �rule of three.
10). Kicked in the Ribs - While Giving Birth By : kacycarr Sacrifices have to be made as soon as your result from the pregnancy test proves positive. Bungee jumping stops as of now, cut down on the intake of alcohol and tobacco. It is common sense to follow the rules from all medical advisors which in return will help you to understand the needs of your new unborn child. By adhering to all advice from your doctor/midwife may help making the birth a pleasant experience.

New Children Articles
1). Personality Matters In Homeschooling By : Joyce Jackson Learn what personality type lend sitself to better homeschooling.
2). Travelling with Young Children By : ian Williamson When grandma and grandpa live in another state or your family wants to travel on a summer vacation then a road trip might be what you plan. If it is and you are traveling with preschool age children you will need your own personal arsenal of things to keep their little minds busy.
3). Weak Cognitive Skills Are Cause of Learning Disabilities By : Paul Counts Learning Disabilities affect people in all walks of life each and every day, but the good news is that something can be done to correct them.
4). Make Your Backyard Fun Again with an Outdoor Toy Structure By : Mayoor Patel A lot must be done if you hope to get your kids outside again, and it could end up costing your hundreds of dollars on something spectacular like an outdoor toy structure, jungle gym, swing set or playhouse. But after all, is it not worth it?
5). Flexibility In Homeschooling By : Joyce Jackson Learn why homeschooling your children give paretns a lot of flexibilty in many areas.
6). Spelling Games Parents Can Play With Their Kids By : Dave Poon There are many spelling games that parents can play with their children to improve their vocabulary.
7). Suitable Clothing for Children By : Ivar Rudi Infants are very susceptible of the impressions of cold; a proper regard, therefore, to a suitable clothing of the body, is imperative to their enjoyment of health.
8). 3 Reasons Why Your Child Needs Strong Memory Skills By : Jim Sarris Being able to memorize is one of the best tools a child can have in their educational toolkit. The author gives parents three reasons why they need to help them develop strong memory skills.
9). How to Keep Your Child Earning Top Grades in School! By : MITCHELL HAMPSON There is one surefire way to keep your children earning the best grades and that is to get a private tutor.
10). Tips in Choosing the Right Kids Games for Your Developing Child By : Dave Poon Kids games play a major role on the development of every child. It is not only a leisure activity but also helps in the growth process of a child.

� 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy