IN Upper St. Clair Summer 2019 | Page 13

INDUSTRY INSIGHT
PARENTING
PREVENTING
SUMMER LEARNING
LOSSES
A
s the school year comes to a close, it is only natural
for kids to look forward to the leisurely nature of the
summer season. The arrival of beach trips, pool parties
and sleepovers, however, doesn’t mean that children
should depart completely from their daily routine. Keeping particular
elements of a child’s day consistent throughout the summer months
keeps the brain focused and helps prevent learning losses during the
summer. In addition, this can potentially ease the anxiety that often
accompanies transitioning into a new classroom or school come fall.
According to research conducted by the National Center for
Summer Learning, which is based at the Johns Hopkins School of
Education in Baltimore, Maryland, summer learning loss accounts
for about two-thirds of the difference in the likelihood of a student
pursuing a college preparatory path in high school. As these findings
indicate, keeping children’s brains challenged throughout the
summer is crucial, since the lack of learning that occurs during these
months has both short-term and long-term consequences. And, brain
growth is 90% complete by age 10 in most children. Keeping your
child challenged in these early years can make a difference in the rest
of his/her life.
READY.
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We help children explore
and discover their interests
through play in a safe
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ample opportunities for
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Routine provides structure, which is often lacking during the
summer months when children all too quickly become detached from
the lessons they learned throughout the school year. Maintaining a
schedule throughout the summer supports an environment that is
less of a contrast to the classroom and provides a healthy balance
between building skills, play and rest.
Families can incorporate the following habits into their children’s
day to encourage and maintain a routine throughout the summer
season:
• Early to bed, early to rise: To the best extent possible, children
should adhere to a regular bedtime each night and wake up at
the same time each day. This will not only ensure proper rest but
will establish a sense of discipline as well.
• Clean up and get dressed: Upon waking up, it is important that
children brush their teeth, get dressed and perform any other
hygienic tasks that they normally would before a school day.
Allowing kids to stay in pajamas or dirty clothes longer than
necessary can result in lazy behavior.
• Make eating an event: Keeping a child on a consistent meal
schedule is critical to maintaining a sharp body and mind.
Establish specific times for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and
sit with children at the table to encourage conversation while
eating.
• Take a rest: If a child partakes in a scheduled naptime while
at school, then he or she should be allotted time at home for
regular rest as well. Make this time consistent, perhaps after
lunch, and have the child rest in the same place every day.
• Perform daily chores: Asking children to help around the
house is an ideal way to get them involved in a daily routine. A
morning chore and an afternoon chore can convey a sense of
responsibility and supply a sense of rhythm to the day.
In addition to providing consistency, routines can present children
with security and comfort as they adjust to the changes that come
along with their new summer schedules. The purpose is not to create
rigidity but to provide a flexible structure that establishes a sense of
purpose kids need to grow and mature.
Finding a preschool/early childhood center that operates
year-round can be very beneficial in this regard. The very best
early childhood centers also offer school readiness programs for
elementary school students. If you are looking for such programs,
make sure they are facilitated by degreed teachers as well as tailored
to meet the specific needs of your child, whether it be concentrating
on advanced or remedial material. It also can be helpful that the
academic program/curriculum is intertwined throughout the center’s
program, so the children readily accept the “summer challenge.”
This Industry Insight was written by Bob & Lori Santo.
GoddardSchool.com
The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with
Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, Inc. program is AdvancED accredited.
© Goddard Systems, Inc. 2018
Bob & Lori Santo are the owners of The Goddard School®,
located at 825 East McMurray Road in Peters Township,
724.941.6464, and 655 Painters Run Road, Upper St. Clair,
412.564.3600. Goddard offers both full- and part-time
infant/preschool/kindergarten programs. For more
information, visit www.goddardschools.com/Pittsburgh.
UPPER ST. CLAIR
❘
SUMMER 2019
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