Summer Learning Fun! How To Keep Young Minds Active During School Breaks

Every summer vacation, children lose up to 25% of their previous year's education*

Don't let your child's summer break mean learning loss! Summer break can actually be the perfect time for children and families to discover fun new ways to learn while enjoying traditional summer activities.

Following are some helpful hints from your friends at VTech:

• Plan a vacation together: Make learning a part of family activities and outings. Involve your child in planning for this year's family vacation by practicing how to use a map to find cities and tourist attractions. If you are going to a different state, help them look up information about the state, such as the state flower and state bird.

• Learning on the go: If your family is planning a summer vacation, be sure to pack portable toys and games that are easy to travel with. Fun hand-held game systems that foster educational growth, such as VTech's V.Smile Pocket, are perfect. New Smartridges, such as Sesame Street, Batman, and SpiderMan, combine kids' favorite characters with real video game play.
• Create a family book club: Set aside at least 20 minutes each day for summer reading, or let your kids choose a bedtime story each night before going to sleep. Depending on their age, trade off reading sections and acting out character voices.
• Online learning adventures: For rainy days, visit parenting and trusted licensor websites, such as www.nick.com or www.disney.com, which provide a wide range of activities to engage children and keep their minds active.