As a kid, I remember counting down the days to summer vacation. As a parent, however, summer vacation can feel different. Summer camps, keeping kids busy - there is a lot to cover. There’s also keeping kid’s brains active, and keeping what they learned in school fresh, so they are ready for next year. Losing knowledge over the break is the “summer slide,” and luckily, there are a few helpful tips to keep kid’s brains growing.

• Encourage your child to read, even for a few minutes, every day. Physical books are great, of course, but magazines, comics, and listening to audio books also count!

• Speaking of books, your local library is also a great place to visit. Ask the librarian about free activities and resources for you and your child to take part in, and have your child pick out books that interest them.

• Spend time cooking together. Measuring ingredients, following multiple steps, and trying new foods all count as valuable learning experiences. And if they make a mess? That’s okay! Make a game out of cleaning up.

• Make the most of your child’s interests with fun, hands-on activities. On long hot days when you’re looking for something everyone can do, a short, fun school activity can go a long way.

• Engage in meaningful conversations and help build your child’s vocabulary. Ask open-ended questions about what they did during the day or how they felt about certain activities. Sometimes you’ll get the “I don’t know” or “nothing” response, and that’s okay. Try starting conversations when they are in a talkative mood.

• Enjoy a new hobby! Summer in Florida, while swelteringly hot, offers great opportunities to go fishing, explore the Everglades, beaches, and visit museums.

Remember, just because school is out does not mean learning has to stop! While I do believe children deserve to relax and unwind after a long school year, it is also important to keep their minds growing. It can be fun, simple ideas like those above that avoid the “summer slide,” and incorporate math, literacy, and other skills into the summer months.