Learning breaks can be difficult for children. The longer the break, the more learning loss occurs. Research on “summer slide” or “summer lag” shows that children can lose up to 34% of their learning over the summer break. This is a great reason to invest in summer learning. One solution is to engage your child in summer enrichment activities and programs. Here are four reasons to support your gifted child’s summer learning.
1. Explore Beyond Classroom Expectations
How often has your child told you they’re “bored” with the standard classroom work? They don’t feel challenged. They don’t want to engage in learning that they already understand. Summer enrichment can allow your child to learn at their own pace. They can choose to read books, take courses, or participate in organized activities that allow them to explore beyond the limits of the classroom. These opportunities can rebuild your child’s love of learning.
2. Nurture Their Passions
Enrichment doesn’t have to focus on learning from math, science, social studies, and reading. This summer break could be an opportunity for your gifted child to engage and explore a topic that they are passionate about instead. Gifted children often have hidden talents related to their creative thinking abilities. They may be artistically inclined, or have a passion for creating products. Nurturing their passions will allow them to be more well-rounded individuals.
3. Build Their Social Skills
Every person wants to feel a sense of belonging to a social group. As a gifted child, they may not have as many friends on a school campus that they connect with personally because of their advanced interests and abilities. Summer enrichment programs can help your child connect with other children across your community who have common interests and abilities. This is also an opportunity to build on valuable social and emotional skills needed in various personal and academic settings.
4. Prepare Them for the Future
Reduce summer learning loss to give your child the step-up they need for college-level learning and a future career. If your child has a specific career goal, you can use enrichment opportunities to strategically build their skills to succeed.
Conclusion
Now that you understand why summer learning enrichment opportunities are essential, explore your community and see what is offered! Many community organizations offer classes, camps, single-day events, competitions, online resources, at-home kits, and more to engage your child in enrichment activities.
Education Service Center Region 13 provides services to help parents support their gifted elementary students. We host parent conferences, events, and more as part of our support for the Gifted and Talented and STEM programs. Browse our current workshops here. Read additional blog posts about Gifted, Talented, and Advanced Academics here.
Amber Reinecke is the Cross-Curricular Systems Program Manager and Gifted and Talented (GT) Specialist at ESC Region 13. She has experience as an elementary classroom GT teacher, as well as six years of experience as a Gifted and Talented Pull-out Teacher and Instructional Coach. She has a passion for working with the gifted community in order to advocate for student needs.
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