Summer Learning Helps Keep Kids Healthy|Southern Education Desk 7-05-2012

Summer is often a time when many students are left to their own devices, which can result in what’s known as summer learning loss and unhealthy eating habits. But some community groups are trying to step into the breach.

 

 

Public libraries are one such community pillar. Libraries are welcoming places for anyone looking to exercise their brain.

Jarrett and Yolanda Douzart

That holds true for children on summer vacation. Seven-year-old Jarrett Douzart is taking advantage of an arts and crafts program at a library in Monroe. In spending time at the library, Jarrett has discovered some treasured reading material.

Jarrett: “Addition Annie.”

Reporter: “Tell me about that book.”

Jarrett: “Well, she knows how to count numbers and add.”

Reporter: “Did you learn stuff from that?”

Jarrett: “Yeah!”   

 

Jarrett’s mother, Yolanda Douzart, says that Jarrett’s time at the library has put him at ease in the educational setting.  

 

“He really gets excited. He is very familiar with the library, so he comes in and makes himself at home.”

 

Other children besides Jarrett also benefit from the library’s summer programming. Staff member Lashoma Clayton says the library is working to associate exciting topics and activities with reading.   

 

“We’re talking about books, we’re talking about vocabulary. We do songs, we do finger plays, especially with those younger children, and those younger school age kids. And so what I’m doing is we’re working on that vocabulary, we’re keeping all of that fresh, but in a fun way.” 

 

 

Such educational engagement is vitally important for children on summer break. The problem of summer learning loss has been widely reported. But the issue runs much deeper than the fact that on average children lose more than two-and-a-half months’ worth of math skills, and the reading proficiency of children from low-income families suffers a two-month setback.

 

But the danger is not just academic. Emily Williamson, director of the childhood development center at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, says that unstructured time in the summer also can lead to major health concerns, and again the threat is highest for the poorest children.

 

“Not only do you have the learning loss with those children, but also many of those children

participate in nutrition food programs during the year. So during the summer you don’t have that, and those children tend to be more sedentary, just watching TV, not engaging in enrichment activities over the summer and so you get into that childhood obesity thing.”   

 

This is a big national problem, but it also a regional one. Data from the Centers for Disease Control says 10-15 percent of very young, low-income children in 7 Southern states are obese. Williamson says that this often means bad results in the classroom when these children return to school in the fall. 

 

“Children that are malnourished definitely are at a disadvantage learning. A lot of times they’re not able to focus; you have illnesses and things that come into that. And children that are overweight may be a little lethargic.”

 

Williamson’s childcare center runs year-round at ULM, with end of semester breaks. She also taught in public school for 17 years. She says that kids who have access to summer programs are better prepared to learn, are more likely to get adequate nutrition, and require less refresher time in the fall than students without those advantages.

 

Despite the benefits of summer learning, children are not always as excited about it as their parents. Yolanda Douzart says that Jarrett sometimes resists summer education.

 

“I do get that from my son but I, the persistent mom, push on because I know what’s going to be best for him.”

 

Jarrett is slated to begin second grade in August. His mom hopes that his summer pursuits will send him into the fall ready to move forward rather than having to play catch-up.