Summer is in full swing. You might finally have time to read some of those books on your list, learn a new skill or maybe even pursue a hobby that you’ve put on hold. We tend to look forward to summer precisely because it allows us to do things outside of our typical routines.
School routines are familiar to both the adults and children in your family. When summer comes, we are often asked about how to help children maintain their skills over the summer months. One of the proven ways of solidifying learning is referred to as spaced practice. In other words, allowing the brain time to consider information it has been presented, synthesizing it with pre-existing knowledge and revisiting it later. Continuous drilling of information - think, perhaps, about the way you were taught the multiplication tables or the capitals of each state - is not effective in the long run. Regularly revisiting information with time and space in between each experience is much more effective and efficient for our brains. The same is true for innovation and creativity. How many times have you had an idea when you’re in the shower or taking a walk? You’re not even thinking about a topic when all of a sudden an idea occurs to you about something you’ve been working on! These opportunities are like summer for our brains. They allow us the time, the space, the opportunity to exist outside of our day-to-day routines.
As we take the time to enjoy some free time this summer, to catch up with things we’ve saved for later and to spend time away from our regularly scheduled days, you may notice that you are a bit more creative, asking more questions and noticing that you have found a solution to a problem that has been on your mind for a while. You and your brain are taking time to experience summer… and to continue to learn and grow even during your down time! If you are working with your child this summer to support them as readers, writers or mathematicians, be sure to take advantage of spaced practice. Allow them the time needed to consolidate the information they are learning. Spending time outside, playing with friends, and exploring new places or ideas is just what is needed. We hope you’re enjoying your summer!
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