by L. A. Brown

Created on: June 06, 2009   Last Updated: July 20, 2009

As thousands of children are eagerly awaiting the end of the school year with dreams of sleeping in, playing ball and swimming, parents everywhere are wondering how much information their kids will be able to retain and what can possibly be done to assist them in starting the new school year on the right foot. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is to plan ahead and be prepared. By doing so, you will eliminate confusion, frustration and maximize both education and play time to the fullest.

Even one hour of study a day can allow for a wide range of learning potential. Keep in mind the school curriculum and ensure that your child is doing a little bit of work in each subject particularly those that they struggled with during their previous year. Include outings and events that allow your youngster to enjoy the weather and have fun. It's amazing how with some creative thinking, you could turn almost anything into an educational experience.

Writing

Have your child write a journal entry everyday. Giving him/her free reign will allow them to exercise their imaginations as well as their vocabulary. This task can take only a few minutes a day but will allow your child to improve upon their spelling, neatness and writing habits. Have them choose their favorite entry for the week and read it out loud to you to improve their confidence with public speaking.

Reading

Unfortunately, in the warmer weather, the books tend to collect a little dust on the shelves. Encourage your child to read a book a week and write a short report about it to demonstrate their level of understanding. Plan weekly outings to the library so they can choose from a vast collection of age appropriate stories. Contact your local branch and inquire on special events they may be hosting that your child could participate.

Math

Purchase a math workbook for your child to practice with. Many are available according to grade level and at reasonable prices. If this was a particularly difficult subject for them, get one for the year they just finished first so they can redo some of the work they struggled with. When they've completed that book, let them try the one for the grade they are entering so they can get a heads up on the topics that will be covered.

Science

This can be a tricky one to tackle, particularly if you not a science whiz. But, on the bright side, it can also be the most fun and rewarding for your child. Give them a list of science project topics and let them choose one that they

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