More FCAT?

Has a child ever told you "FCAT is over, we don't have to know that anymore?" If you have heard that statement and others like it, then you understand what happens when summer comes. The brains of many students seem to shut off, and everything that they were taught during the school year begins to fade away. Unless you are blessed with one of those little reading machines that will read 30 books over the summer months, to the other kids, anything that smells like school is greeted with an attitude. "But mah, school's out!"

Gone are the 30 minutes of required reading a night. Gone are Silent Sustained Reading periods in the day. Gone are school sponsored reading contests and the other competitions and incentives educators use to try to get those little minds reading --anything! Now it's up to you.

Summer is a time for fun, camps, vacations, and other great family outings. Or it may be time to find alternative child care because they kids are the only ones on vacation. They forget that you aren't.

Even for the busiest caregiver, there are still ways to keep those minds thinking and even learning througout the summer without making it seem like school. Read on for some helpful tips on keeping your child's brain working over the summer.