10 things parents can do to help their child start the school year strong

Summer break is nearly over (gasp!) for most kids in the Triangle. The National Summer Learning Association and Learning Heroes recently shared this list of 10 things parents can do to help their child start the school year strong.

Posted 1:00 a.m. Aug 14, 2018 — Updated 1:00 a.m. Aug 14, 2018

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

, Go Ask Mom editor

There's still time to brush up on those skills and gear up for a new school year!

Make a simple plan

Look at your child’s grades, pay attention to how easy or hard it is for them to do grade-level activities, and look out for the state test results you’ve received from school. Go to Be a Learning Hero's website for a simple three-step plan to help set your child up for success in the new school year.

Promote real-world skills

Encourage life-skills that help your child in and out of the classroom. Show your child how to problem-solve, learn from mistakes, and how to communicate effectively with others, especially in tough situations.

Let them show what they know!

Summer is about having fun and exploring your child’s interests. As your child reads, plays an educational app, or during everyday moments at home, ask them to teach what they’ve learned and what they enjoyed or didn’t. This will help them review important skills and help build their confidence!

Find the fun (and free) in your community.

There are places and spaces to learn all around you. Check out recreation and parks or library programs that have academic support and activities for children. Visit a zoo or museum to explore new interests. Plan a day trip—find a nearby park or historical place you’ve never been to and talk about what you want to learn during your visit. Editor's note: We cover lots of free activities across the Triangle. You'll find many in our Summer Activities Guide and our weekly weekend activities posts.

Read every day.

Whether doing it at home, at a library, or even while visiting a beach or park, reading can be a joyful escape. Many schools use Lexile levels to measure your child’s reading ability. Parents can help children pick books that interest them and are suited to their Lexile reading level. Check your child’s prior year school assessments for the Lexile level or visit the MetaMetrics, Find a Book site. The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is another free, online reading program where students can unlock digital rewards as they complete weekly reading challenges. Editor's note: And here's a list of Triangle area summer reading programs.

Have fun with numbers and science

Add a little math to summer reading fun. Asking your child to help tally a grocery bill, follow a cupcake recipe, or calculate how much time it will take to get to the beach are creative ways to practice math skills. Kids are naturally inquisitive – from collecting rocks or rose petals; making ice cubes and then watching them melt, making volcanoes out of clay, or making a sound sandwich using ice pop sticks, rubber bands, and piece of a straw, science fun is everywhere.

Easy, kid-friendly, at-home experiments

Make art … and music

Whether it’s painting a picture, composing a song or constructing musical instruments out of cardboard, let the summer months be the time when your child discovers a joy of creative expression.

Get moving and eat healthy

Many children experience unhealthy levels of weight gain during the summer months because they get less exercise when schools are closed. So kids need to take a hike, learn to swim, play in the sun, and go for a bike ride, run or walk. Start simple with a tomato container garden or fresh herbs grown on your kitchen window sill. It’s a great way to encourage healthy eating with your child. Editor's note: Our Summer Break Toolbox includes links to local pools and family-friendly hikes.

Manage screen time

Experts generally say that it’s OK for children to use screen time in a limited way as long as they are supervised. There are many self-paced and free online learning programs that support skill development in many subjects from pre-k through twelfth grade. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the quality of content is more important than the platform or time spent with media. Prioritize how your child spends his time rather than just setting a timer.

Keep good habits

Keep a bedtime routine. It’s OK for your child to stay up a bit later in the summer but it’s still very important to maintain a regular bedtime and routine. For example, if you read a bedtime story to your child during the school year, then read a bedtime story during the summer. And remember most children need a good eight hours of sleep a night.

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