I am looking forward to spending a great summer with my kids enjoying our DIY Summer Camp at home. But one of the things that I don't want to see happen is for my kids to take their eyes off of academics for two solid months and then head back to school in the fall having forgotten half of what they learned during this school year. So how can Moms help their tweens to avoid the summer slide? Here's my 4 step-plan!
#1- Avoid the summer slide by spending 15 minutes on math review daily
If their teachers send home a review packet for the summer- then, by all means, go with that! But if they don't (or if your child conveniently “forgets it” at school) then here are a couple of good options for you to look into to help you to avoid the summer slide:
Practice, practice, practice- is the key to not losing that muscle memory that the kids built up in math class all year long. This is a great workbook This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. for math practice covering common core principles that the kids should be learning in middle school.
However, if I really want to get my kids to cooperate and want to review math over the summer- using an app is the best way to get them to engage!
My kids are used to practicing math skills using the IXL app- and they receive access via their school accounts and use this tool throughout the year.
But even as a parent you can register for the monthly program which runs $9.95/month for one subject or up to $19.95 for all subject areas, and then simply cancel your membership at the end of the summer.
Each day you and your child can select a math activity from a list of topics.
Or they can use the “Recommendations” section to work on some practice questions and then get some suggestions based on areas they need to work on.
#2- Make family reading time a daily activity
I would love for every member of our family to dedicate 30 minutes to reading daily- and so to make sure this happens we are going to pick our reading time each morning based on whatever we have going on that day- and then I am going to set the alarm on my phone to remind us to do it!
We'll mix it up as to where we'll read- maybe outside in the hammock, or we'll take our books on the road and the kids can read in the car on the way to/from another activity while I stream a book on the Audible app. (
You can try Audible and get two free audiobooks from this link
This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you.
!
We'll also make plans to visit our local library every few weeks to make sure that everyone has something engaging to read!
Looking for some fun things to do with the kids?
Check out some of our family's favorites! Here's our list of the best backyard games This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and for those rainy days- here are our favorite board games This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !
You can find more great resources for busy Moms over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !
#3- Keep a journal as one of your summer learning activities
I would love to inspire my kids to work on their writing over the summer- but I know that assigning topics for exploration just isn't going to fly.
So I plan to purchase some beautiful writing journals like these This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and just ask them to write in them at least once a week- on any topic they'd like.
Or if you are feeling crafty- you could create your own journals like these cool jeans pocket writing journals that we made a few summers ago!
#4- Develop a system to reward summer learning!
Look- no matter how you package it- you are asking your kids to spend time in the summer doing things they'd rather just avoid! Offering some motivation is the best way to inspire them to cooperate- without you having to nag them! If that means a weekly trip to the ice cream parlor for those that completed their work- so be it!
In past summers we offered the kids a chance to earn souvenir money for upcoming trips or the chance to do a special activity while on vacation that only those who did their work each week got to enjoy!
You can call it a reward system, or a bribe, or an incentive plan! Just make sure it is something that appeals to your tween!
Please check out my DIY Summer Camp page for lots of ideas on how to host your own kids summer camp at home!
Here are some more great summer ideas for you:
- Free Family Summer Bucket List Printable
- 50 Fun Summer Activities, Crafts, and Field Trips (From Pre-K to Teens!)
- 10 Summer Hobbies for Kids (That They Can Learn Themselves!)
Helen says
This is a wonderful idea…even for adults w/o kids. Kind of like daily ‘to do’ items that don’t take up too much time and encourages QT with oneself. The reading helps to recharge the soul, writing helps you clear your mind and get things out vs allowing them to be bottled up and the math keeps the brain sharp – could be puzzles or even soduku!
How many people actually plan time in their day just for themselves?
Thank you for sharing this idea 🙂
Sharon says
Nice idea Helen…. homework for grownups as a way to force a little “me” time! Sounds cool!
Suzi says
Seems to me that the kids will be more interested in staying with this plan because they will be doing it on the computer. Great idea. You might have to invest in at least one more computer.
Sharon says
I think we have more than enough computers hanging around for each of them to find 20 minutes a day….. while one set does math, the other can be reading….
Lynne Stark says
Sharon, this sounds so wonderful, and i know you did this (different formats but same idea) last year, but how do you really get them to spend an hour a day on “work”? If Amy’s in camp until 3, when she gets home, she’s pooped. We either go to town pool, and by the time we get home from that, shower, dinner, etc., it’s time for bed, or if she stays home and “chills” with some tv, I guess she can put in a little time. ??? but i’m gonna try!
One last question, how many computers do your kids have access to? one of the reasons Amy’s not computer savvy is because the only computer she has access to is mine. In my room. Hey, maybe this would be GOOD for ME if there’s 20 minutes a day for the math that I don’t have access to my computer. 🙂
Sharon says
Keep in mind Lynne that my kids don’t go to camp… so it is easier for us to fit this in the morning before we head out to do something, after lunch before we move onto the next thing or even later in the afternoon before I allow electronics to be turned back on.