Top 5 Ways to Beat the Summer Slide

Spring has arrived and students are already thinking of all the exciting stuff they will do over the summer. As we approach the lazy days of summer, parents should think of ways to keep their students active both physically and mentally. There can be a loss of academic skills for children and for some it can be as much as two months of math and reading skills that can slide away and is known as the “summer drain”.  To avoid this, here are 5 simple ideas to keep your student active and engaged throughout the summer.

Disguise learning as fun!

Every parent has tried to hide a vegetable for nutritional value during a meal or snack from time to time, why not do the same for learning? There are many camps available that can help keep your child’s brain engaged, the creative juices flowing, as well as engaging problem-solving skills. Local STEAM camps include Windermere Prep Makerspace Camp, Camp Invention, and Orlando Science Center are a few.

Help your child discover a new passion!

Summer is a great time to learn something new. Learn to swim, ride a bike, paint, or code, engaging the brain in learning a new skill helps build problem-solving skills, resiliency, and grit in an authentic learning environment. Local options include Camp Heronwood, Truffles & Trifles, FullSail University, and Rollins College Summer Camps. 

Be Creative

Summer is the perfect time to let your child’s imagination run wild and stimulate creativity. Kids.gov provides resources for arts and crafts projects that will keep children engaged and their minds active while having fun. NGA Kids offers a variety of activities or projects from the National Gallery of Art, enjoy an animated musical adventure, take a tour through the sculpture garden, and more. The Rep Theater, Kennedy Space Center, Sanford Zoo, Sea World are great local options too. 

Stay Active & Healthy

In addition to academic risks, children can also be at an increased risk of weight gain during the summer months.  Keep youth active outdoors and indoors with local sports camps offered around town including Orlando Tennis Academy at Windermere Prep, Lakers Aquatics, YMCA, RDV Sportsplex, XL Soccer, Windermere Prep’s Basketball camps and more!

Read, Read, Read!

Books can be magical in the fact that they can transport you to new places! Trips to a local book store, library or allowing your child to join a book subscription service will prove to be beneficial as students tend to be more invested in a book they self-select.  University of Central Florida Reading Course is a perfect way to engage children over the summer.  Finding time to read together is a wonderful way to bond as a family and instill the love of learning with people they love. 

With these 5 tips plus limiting screen time during the summer, everyone will be able to enjoy the summer knowing their children will be ready for the fall.

About Windermere Preparatory School

Windermere Preparatory School is a private college preparatory school educating students from Pre-K3 through Grade 12. Founded in 2000, Windermere Preparatory School is a member of the Nord Anglia Education Family of Schools and is located on a 48-acre campus in Orlando, Florida. Known as one of the best private schools in Orlando, our school provides a seamless curriculum that culminates with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) and is the only Central Florida private school to offer the IB Diploma, which is widely considered to be the Gold Standard of High School curriculum. Windermere Preparatory School is a local school of distinction with a global vision, including a population of international boarding students from around the world.