By Jen Ursillo, June 25, 2019
There is probably no greater joy for a child than the last day of school — when summer stretches into what seems like an endless stream of days of freedom and leisure. But there is that one thing that could ruin it all: summer homework.
Aaron Dworkin, CEO of the National Summer Learning Association in Baltimore, Maryland, said most children who don’t keep up with their math and literacy skills or participate in organized programs do worse academically when they return to school in September. Too much unstructured downtime can adversely affect children, leading to regression in the skills and knowledge that support student achievement, he said.
He said parents should try to pinpoint the areas of trouble their children have in school, then make summer learning for them different and interesting. Find hands-on ways to find what the kids are passionate about, so they can practice and improve in struggling areas.