Children Needn’t Go from School Days to Summer Daze

Take Advantage of the Many Summer Learning Opportunities Available in Central Indiana By John Brandon



This is the time of the year when lots of folk’s minds turn to planning how they and their children will spend their summer vacation. To succeed in school and life, children and young adults need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. This is especially true during the summer months. Many of us have an image of summer as a carefree, happy time when “kids can be kids,” and take for granted the prospect of enriching experiences such as summer camps and family trips to museums, parks and libraries. When you are making your summer plans with the children you care about, be sure to take advantage of the many learning opportunities available in central Indiana. Consider these facts from the National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University:

• ALL young people suffer learning losses if they are not involved in some sort of learning activities over the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer.

• MANY students, especially those from lower income homes, lose the equivalent of two months of math and reading skills during the summer. This adds up. About two-thirds of the ninth grade achievement gap between lower and higher income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college.
  

• Children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer. Most children—particularly children at high risk of obesity—gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school during summer break.

• Parents consistently name summer as the most difficult time to ensure their children have productive things to do.

Museums, libraries, parks, community centers, local congregations and many other youth-serving organizations offer a variety of summer experiences that challenge young people and keep them engaged in positive activities, including summer programs and camps covering topics that focus on or incorporate art, music, science, math and reading. These summer activities give children the time to investigate topics more deeply, participate in hands-on projects and develop caring relationships with adult and youth staff. Social and recreational opportunities provided by these programs can build self-confidence, support healthy habits, and prevent childhood obesity, all of which contribute to children's readiness to learn in school.

Summer also offers many youth the opportunity to develop leadership ability and other practical skills that they can continue to use into adulthood. Jobs and volunteer positions are available in summer camps, recreation centers and state-sponsored programs. Young people who work in summer programs serve as positive role models for their peers and campers alike, providing concrete examples of how young people can contribute and make a difference in their community.

Above all, think about summer learning as a positive youth development strategy. At MCCOY, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to thrive, learn, engage, and contribute— and we know that young people depend on the caring adults in their lives to provide these opportunities. So, as you are plotting summer time activities, how about setting aside half hour a week to read to or with a young person who is important to you, discuss current events with your teen or play a board game with the family? An active, growing mind doesn’t need a vacation—it needs stimulation.

There are literally hundreds of quality summer programs and learning experiences in central Indiana that offer a safe place, caring adults, and countless occasions for children and youth to expand their horizons, develop their talents, and build their skills. MCCOY’s 12th annual Youth Activity Directory has hundreds of listings and ideas. Many of these programs are low-cost or provide financial assistance for low-income families. Make this a summer to remember—in more ways than one.

John Brandon is the president of MCCOY (Marion County Commission on Youth), the youth services intermediary for central Indiana. MCCOY’s mission is to champion the positive development of youth through leadership on key issues and support of the youth worker community. MCCOY’s vision is that every young person in central Indiana has opportunities to thrive, learn, engage and contribute.