Top 5 Reasons Why Summer Programs are Good for Your Child

Summer is right around the corner. Rather than letting your child take a two-month long hiatus, there are several reasons why you should consider sending your child to a summer program with less conventional learning activities such as attending a music festival, watching a performance or visiting a museum.  

1) Your child is more likely to develop their language, literacy and vocabulary skills.

High quality summer learning programmes will bolster your child’s literacy skills and improve their attitude towards reading through exposing your child to new adventures, skills and ideas. These could be activities like going on a nature walk, using a new computer programme, giving a presentation, visiting a museum or attending a live performance. As a result, high quality summer programmes will help your child attain vocabulary skills much closer to their grade level and reverse learning loss that is common over the summer. [1]

2) Your child’s academic skills and reading efficacy will improve

High quality summer programs will also help your child improve their academic skills. If your child takes part in a variety of activities such as reading, writing, mathematics, science arts and public service projects that are fun and engaging, your child will improve in overall academic skills and reading efficacy, which are key skills to higher academic achievement. [2]

3) Summer learning programs will help your child transition between grades and develop leadership skills

Summer programs will also help your child adapt to the upcoming school year, particularly between primary and secondary school. Summer programs will help your child make new friends and get along better with other students. Summer programs help foster cooperative learning by working with other students in group projects and activities. Group activities and community-based projects will help your child develop socially.[3]

4) Summer programs  will help promote a healthier lifestyle for your child

Regular participation in organised activities have shown to lower health risks such as childhood obesity. Your child is more likely to be physically active and mentally engaged in summer programs that are not conventional learning activities.  [4]

5) Summer learning programmes will reduce your child’s summer learning loss

Summer programs will help your child to retain learning from the previous school year and help them to better acclimate in the following school year. The 2-3 month hiatus often leads to forgetting information learned the previous academic year. Students who do not take part in a summer program are more inclined to require significant review when the following school year begins. Learning loss over time also accumulates leading to a wider gap in learning.[5]  Summer programs that include expression through arts, field trips, self-esteem building activities, service learning, STEAM and environmental education and team activities will help to lessen your child’s learning loss over the summer.  

The end of the school year does not have to be the end of your child’s learning. High-quality summer programs are proven to help your child develop academically, socially, emotionally and physically.  

Summer should be a time to supplement your child’s education and offer learning experiences not normally available during the school year.

Nord Anglia Education’s Global Campus Worldwide offers an array of summer learning experiences around the world, or closer to home for every age. Our summer programmes will enhance transferable skills that will benefit your child in school, university and future careers.

Have a look at our Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard where your child can hone their musical or acting skills in one of the most beautiful cities in the world: Geneva, Switzerland.

Summer Performing Arts with Juilliard

If you’re looking for something closer to home, visit our website for day and boarding summer opportunities near you.

BISC Lincoln Park Summer Camp 

[1] K. L. Alexander, D.R. Entwisle, and L.S. Olson, 2007b, New Directions for Youth Development, 114, p.18.

[2] H. Cooper, B. Nye, K. Charlton, J. Lindsay and S. Greathouse, Review of Educational Research, 1996 (66, 227-268).

[3] Cooney, Sondra, Gene Bottoms. “Middle Grades to High School: Mending a Weak Link.” Southern Regional Education Board. 2003

[4] Wong, William W., Sarah E. Barlow, Carmen Mikhail, Theresa A. Wilson, Paula M. Hernandez, Roman J. Shypailo, Stephanie H. Abrams. “A Residential Summer Camp Can Reduce Body Fat and Improve Health-related Quality of Life in Obese Children.” Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition. January 2013: p 83–85. Print.

[5] Cooper, Harris, Barbara Nye, Kelly Charlton, James Lindsay; Scott Greathouse. “The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement and Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review.” Review of Educational Research. Fall 1996. P227-268. Print.