400 READS Library’s communications manager offers 10 sneaky ways to prevent summer slide.

400reads 10 Sneaky Ways to Prevent Summer Slide

By Leslie Marinelli | Forsyth County Public Library

Parents, you’ve probably heard about the dreaded learning loss known as summer slide. Many children struggle to maintain gains in reading and math during summer break and studies have shown that without regular reading and learning activities, students can actually lose roughly one month of school-year achievement over the summer.

Fortunately, summer slide is preventable through enriching activities and daily reading. Here are 10 easy ways you can make memories with your child this summer while helping them practice important literacy and math skills. They’ll have so much fun, they won’t even realize they’re learning!

1. Visit your library.

I’ve seen enough smiling children and parents holding stacks of books at Forsyth County Public Libraries to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that spending time at the library helps kids fall in love with reading.

There is something magical about being surrounded by all the books and other people excited about books that makes people want to read more.

Plus, our helpful librarians can give you and your child personalized suggestions about all the materials, resources, and activities available at the library. And everything is free!

2. Read aloud.

Even children who are reading on their own can benefit from the practice of reading aloud to you, or listening as you read aloud.

When you share a story, you can talk about the characters, the action, and your child’s reaction to the book. Those discussions can encourage deeper reading, boost comprehension, and aid in recalling details. Pro tip: let your child pick the book, audiobook, or graphic novel for increased buy-in.

3. Cook with your kids.

Practice fractions with older elementary students as they measure ingredients for a recipe. Practice reading and following instructions with younger elementary students as they read the recipe and follow the step-by-step instructions.

4. Sneak a science lesson into other activities.

Practice creative chemistry by making an ice balloon and conducting experiments. Learn about ecology and biology by planting a vegetable patch. Discover why the seasons change on Earth by building a model of the solar system.

5. Enjoy family game night.

Pull out skill-building games like Bananagrams or Scrabble to practice spelling and vocabulary or Monopoly, Jr. to practice math and money management.

6. Map it out.

Whether you’re taking a road trip or just going to a park across town, you can practice geography by giving your child a map and asking them to pinpoint your home and your destination. Then, ask them to plan a route and give turn-by-turn directions, such as “Go south on Ga. 400” and “Take exit 14 and go west on Hwy. 20” to hone their map-reading and spatial reasoning skills.

7. Practice creative writing.

Ask older elementary students to write a short song (set to a familiar tune, like ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’) to commemorate a family event or milestone, such as a vacation or a birthday. Ask younger students to write and mail a note to a friend or family member. Students of all ages can write or draw pictures to tell a story and you can help them make their own homemade book bindings.

8. Encourage creativity with unstructured play.

Beat boredom by allowing kids to make their own fun. Whether they play independently or with other children, make sure there’s time to let their imaginations run wild.

9. Learn something new.

Practice skills that aren’t usually taught in an academic setting. Younger students might practice tying their shoes or riding a bike while older students might learn to type or play an instrument.

Students of all ages can pitch in with family chores by learning to do the dishes or laundry, vacuuming or sweeping, or sorting items for recycling.

FCPL also provides a fantastic array of free summer events for all ages!

From magic shows, professional storytellers, and “explosive” STEM programs for school-aged kids, to teen workshops in cooking, writing, and improv, to bass fishing secrets from one of the South’s most experienced and skilled anglers, there is something for everyone at FCPL this summer. Best of all, every program is free and open to the public.

Sign up for our Weekly Program Planner and we’ll deliver a list of our highlighted programs for the weekend and week ahead to your inbox every Thursday: www.bit.ly/fcpl-wpp

10. Register for Summer Reading Fun!

Keep your child reading this summer with our reading incentive program! This year’s theme, Oceans of Possibilities, will keep them engaged through fun, free activities, and the chance to earn incremental prizes all summer long.

Sadly, fewer kids than ever are reading for pleasure today according to a Pew Research study. Reading incentive programs “gamify” reading, making it more fun and less of a chore.

Plus, rewards and recognition of reading achievements help motivate students to keep reading. For reluctant readers, the activities element of summer reading programs can draw them in and serve as a gateway to reading.

So sign up! Track reading and activities to earn points, badges, incremental prizes, and Grand Prize entries from May 25 through July 31, 2022.

Visit forsythpl.beanstack.org to register.

Leslie Marinelli is the Communications Manager at Forsyth County Public Library where she was a children’s librarian for four years. Prior to her work at the library she was a writer and editor who has been featured in The Huffington Post, CNN’s Headline News, Parenting Magazine, and Northside Woman. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Leslie has lived in Forsyth County for 19 years, is a mother of three, and can often be found shouting “DROP IT” while chasing her rescue pup, Birdie.

For more information about FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY or any of our resources or upcoming events, please visit WWW.FORSYTHPL.ORG or connect with FCPL on social media @forsythpl.