Keeping Kids Intellectually Engaged In The Summer
Studies show that students lose months of reading and math skills over summer vacation. That knowledge loss adds up especially for children of low-income families but it can be mitigated by keeping students engaged all year long.
Source: NPR Topics: Education
This is something I wish my parents had encouraged me in - studying more and not giving up my free time for other things. It really is a waste to have an idle brain for two months. In the very least things like developing social skills, music and art can be done.
I whole heatedly agree! Summer is way too long without some kind of mental exercise. My parents always encouraged us to go to fun summer school camps where we could think more about future careers and things we might like to learn. It really paid off in the end because when the next school started I didn't feel too out of sync.