Summer vacation is here! While the kids are probably ecstatic for the long months of study-less days ahead, you may be sitting there wondering what happens to my child and the knowledge he or she gained over the school year?

Unfortunately, kids do lose a significant amount in what is commonly referred to as summer brain drain. Studies show that kids lose as much as two to three months of math and reading skills over the summer, meaning teachers have to spend about six weeks at the beginning of each fall re-teaching old material to make up for this loss. Summer brain drain can become serious in that if left unaddressed, students by the end of grade six can be behind on average of 2 years compared to their peers who had not experienced summer brain drain over the years. The good news however, is that compared to the repercussions, summer brain drain is easy to prevent. All that it takes is 2-3 hours per week and it doesn’t have to feel like school. Here are some ways you and your nanny can help prevent summer brain drain:

• Encourage kids to journal all of the fun activities and memories they are sure to be making over the summer vacation.
• Plan a scavenger hunt together. Explore a neighborhood or a park together and learn more about Japan.
• Keep books around and read together and even make a routine out of it. Reading outside of the classroom setting is crucial in fostering a healthy and long-lasting relationship with books!
• Get the creative side of the brain fired up by planning a project together.
• Practice some chemistry by making something delicious together! Researching recipes, shopping for ingredients, measuring and combining the ingredients and getting creative with the presentation and pairing of the food are all great opportunities for learning and developing creativity.
• Work with a Japanese babysitter, an English nanny, or other international babysitters to immerse your kids in a foreign language. Your kids can learn a new language or improve on one they already speak without even realizing it!
   

While it is also important to spend some time working on traditional academic skills like reading, writing, and math, summer vacation is a great opportunity for your kids to learn, develop, and grow in unstructured play. Their time spent with babysitters rather than in the classroom is a great opportunity for your kids to buildsocial and physical skills, explore their creativity, and develop their language and communication. At CareFinder, we are committed to meeting all of your babysitting needs whether you are looking for just an evening babysitter, an international babysitter, a hotel babysitter, a weekend babysitter, an overnight babysitter, a great au pair or a summer babysitter. With CareFinder, living in Tokyo with kids doesn’t have to be difficult. Don’t let summer brain drain stop you or your kids from enjoying a great summer vacation!