Now that the school year has come to an end, and
the lazy summer days beckon, parents may become concerned that a total break
isn't always appropriate for every child.
For some kids, summer break can really mean a loss of progress on
essential skills. Summer break may
have both positive and negative effects on children with disabilities. Some students with special needs adjust
well to the break from the routine and structure that school provides, while
others seem to need the consistent academic and social stimulation. As such, it's important for parents to
recognize their children's needs and respond appropriately during the summer
vacation months. The following are
some ideas that may help your child retain both the academic and social skills
learned throughout the school year and avoid that “learning loss” that can
occur over summer.
- Join a neighborhood reading program. Many bookstores and libraries run programs to encourage summer reading, offering badges or books as rewards. Some hold discussion-and-pizza book groups - a great way to promote reading and social skills.
- "Read"
a movie. Read books
that have been turned into movies, then rent the film or see it at the
theater. Discuss how closely the movie followed the book, or chart the
similarities on a poster board.
- Send postcards. Let your child buy or make postcards to send to friends, whether he's on a trip or in his own back yard. Encourage him to keep up a running commentary - writing is a critical skill to practice over the summer
- Build a blog. If you tell your kids to write an essay about their daily activities, you can be fairly certain they'll balk. But if you set them up with a blog where they can upload photos, share their stories and get feedback from friends and relatives, well, that's a whole different story. Set aside a few minutes to blog each day -- during dinner prep, for example, or just before bed. Even if their spelling makes you cringe, their typing skills will improve, and far-flung family members will appreciate the updates.
- Make a meal plan. Grab the grocery store circulars when they arrive and ask the kids to help you spend the budget effectively. Build your menus around sale items, in-season fruits and vegetables, and family favorites. Have the kids calculate the cost per meal, or per person, then try to figure out if you can do better next week. For extra credit, you may be able to get your kids to put the information into a graph "for Daddy."
- Plan a field trip. Heading to the zoo? Make it a big deal. Plan the field trip a few days in advance. Figure out when you'll arrive, when you'll eat and when you'll leave. Go online and plan out the route you'll follow once you get there. Pick a few questions to research and answer while you're there. You can still have a lot of fun -- but your kids will also learn a little more than they might have otherwise
- Above all else – Spend time together. The less hectic days of summer provide the perfect opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with your kids. Let them take the lead and guide the activities at least once a week. As for you – you just go along for the ride and enjoy!
References
- Summer Learning Loss: The Problem and
Some Solutions, http://www.ericdigests.org/2003-5/summer.htm
- Summer Activities for Children with
Learning Disabilities, http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/parents/help/summer.asp
- Summer Enrichment, http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/814149/the-end-of-the-school-year-summer-enrichment-1
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