Summer — the season of playgrounds, skinned knees, sunburns and splinters abound as children spend more and more time outside. June is National Safety Month in the U.S., and with that in mind, we’ve broken down the “slides” your children should be careful of at the playground and in their development.
Slide Safety-101:
- Metal slides: While most parks have removed metal slides from their playgrounds, your child could still stumble upon one of these classic installations. It can be a hot ride down, taking the fun out of the slide! Do quick temperature checks before letting your little one take a ride.
- Enclosed playground slides: Get your child into the habit of doing a ‘double-check’ before riding on an enclosed playground slide. With the main part of the slide obscured from sight, your child could collide with a playmate, hit a hidden object or even encounter a spider web (a risk that comes with being the first slider of the day).
- Slides that empty into ball pits: Like metal slides, ball pits are becoming a rarity in play areas. Though they’re sure to inspire shrieks of excitement from younger children, but where there’s a ball pit, there’s a risk that your child is sliding into hidden objects.
- Water slides: Water parks are home to the most thrilling of slides, the water slide, which can also be the most dangerous. Check height requirements, make sure a lifeguard is on duty, and be mindful of the depth of the pool the slide runs into, so your child can enjoy the ride and the swim back to land!
Regardless of where your summer takes you, the dreaded ‘summer slide’ remains the one every parent should be aware of.
What is the dreaded ‘summer slide’?
The summer slide, the one slide your children should be determined to avoid, refers to the pause in learning that comes with the absence of school instruction during summer vacation. Many children lose up to two months of skills and knowledge, which must be retaught at the beginning of the next school year. Over the long-term, taking the summer off from learning, adds up to more than two years between first grade and high school.
Keep nurturing your children’s math and reading abilities by making learning part of their summertime experience. Keep books and educational games on hand during long vacations, and visit the library weekly. Visit education.com to learn more about summer learning on a budget and for tips on how to keep learning hot during warmer months.
No matter what type of slide you encounter this summer, the best way to avoid problems is with a simple observation of your surroundings. Check out your child’s environment for opportunities to learn; if you don’t see any, create them. Make learning as fun as the rest of their summer, and they will be sharp when summer fades to fall and school comes back around.
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Email Cindy McVay at Issaquah_WA@iKumon.com to schedule your free placement test. Research Kumon on their website and on Facebook or call Cindy McVay, M.Ed. in Issaquah at 425-369-1072. Placement testing is always free.
Kumon Math and Reading Center of Issaquah Highlands
1036 NE Park Drive, Issaquah, WA 98029
425-369-1072
Class Hours:
Tue: 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Wed: 3:30pm - 7:00pm
Thu: 3:30pm - 6:30pm
Sat: 9:00am - 12:30pm
