Research shows that students benefit from summer learning activities
The summer holidays for most of us are reminiscent of sleeping in, playing outdoors, and enjoying a well-earned break from the rigors of the school year. Despite these rosy memories, research is emerging that points to a definitive downside to too much summertime recreation.
While the summer holidays are intended to give families a chance to recharge, there can be unintended consequences to forgoing the school routine. Weeks of unstructured days quickly turn into boredom. Important skills and habits learned throughout the academic year are forgotten, and sleep and nutrition start to slip as late nights and lazy days become the norm.
Find out how parents and students can adopt summer education and learning into their break while still enjoying themselves.
Why is summer learning important?
Many parents fondly recall summer days spent on long road trips or playing in a junior sports league, but the reality for today’s students is often very different. Far removed from the idyllic summer of yesteryear, young people today are bombarded with electronic devices and media that do not allow for much stimulation.
It might seem harmless to let your child spend their days on social media or video games, but it can decline a student's academic performance in the long run. A comprehensive review of 39 studies on the effects of summer vacation on achievement reveals a startling fact: Children of all backgrounds lose four to six weeks of grade-level equivalency during the summer holidays. That is half a semester!
How to encourage learning during the summer break?
This is not to say that a break from the rigor of the traditional school year is a bad thing. Instead, parents should seek opportunities for students to continue to engage in learning over the summer, including summer tutoring programs.
There are a myriad of ways for parents to foster growth in their children over the break. The Summer Institute at American Heritage Schools is an academic enrichment program built for students who want to pursue their passion or explore something new. The Summer Institute offers courses from reading, math, writing, science, art, and robotics to Psychology, Speech & Debate, medical terminology, SAT Prep, and leadership. Open to grades PK3 through 12, this powerful program is a wonderful way to make this summer a period of growth and excitement for all ages.
The American Heritage Summer Program also offers Summer Day Camps in a wide array of subjects – everything from art activities to computers, theater, robotics, and sports. These can give students an immersive experience in an activity of interest and keep his or her mind engaged and learning all summer long.
When making plans for your child over summer break, we hope you choose American Heritage Summer Day Camps and Summer Institute. There are so many ways to help your child grow and thrive this summer. Whether it’s through summer education or our day camps, we look forward to making it happen.
American Heritage Schools is a leader in private education, academic excellence, and innovation. With two 40 acre campuses, one in Broward County and the other in Palm Beach County, Florida, we serve 4,600 students grades PK3 through 12. American Heritage Schools was recently named the #1 Private School for academic success with the highest number of National Merit Scholars of all private schools in the nation. For over 55 years, our mission of knowledge, integrity, and compassion has developed the full potential of each child to be an active, intelligent, creative, and contributing member of society. Contact an admissions director for more information or sign up for a campus tour.