Helpful Tips on Keeping Kandiyohi County Kids School-Ready
Once school’s out, academic skills can slip by one to two months if kids don’t keep practicing. A little planning now saves a lot of catch‑up in September—and helps your child start the new year confident and ready to learn more!
1. Schedule Reading Time
20 minutes a day = big gains in the fall.
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Pick the right spot. A hammock in the backyard or the cool corner of the Willmar Public Library—both count.
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Let them choose. Graphic novels, sports magazines, even recipes—if they’re reading, they’re learning.
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Model it. Keep your own book handy. Kids copy what they see.
2. Encourage Writing & Creativity
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Summer journal jars: fill a jar with quirky prompts (“If you lived on the moon for a day…”). Kids draw one, write or draw for 10 minutes.
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Postcard challenges: have them send handwritten postcards to relatives—built‑in penmanship and storytelling practice.
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Comic‑strip creation: blank panels + markers = endless language practice that feels like play.
3. Make Learning a Game
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Turn kitchen time into a fraction lesson while measuring ingredients.
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Use apps like Prodigy or Khan Kids for quick math quests in the car.
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Try a backyard scavenger hunt that sneaks in plant science and vocabulary.
4. Bridge the Gap with YMCA Summer Day Camp
Summer Day Camp offers fantastic STEM activities, reading opportunities, educational field trips and so much more. It's a great way to bridge that summer education gap while your kids are having a blast.
By weaving these bite‑sized strategies into your summer routine, you’ll help your child dodge the dreaded “summer slide” and stride into school feeling confident and ready to learn.