Kids love the months of summer vacation, but sadly, these weeks out of school can be a detriment to their education. Many children suffer from learning loss during the summer; that means they can lose up to two months of academic learning depending on their grade level and the subject. Math learning loss is the most common. So how can you make sure your kids don’t experience learning loss this summer? One solution is summer school. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of summer schooling.

What the Advocates Say

• Structured learning: Kids need a plan of structured learningso that they retain their growing foundation of knowledge. Many parents would prefer to have year-round school so summer school is a good substitute to help kids stay on track.

• Extra-curricularlearning: Some kids may be reluctant to take summer school classes. One way you can get round this is to put them into a class that you think they really need and let them pick another one for fun.

• Start early: It’s best to weave summer school classes into your kid’s lives from the beginning of their schooling. That way it’s a normal part of their routine. If you want to find out more about different types of available summer school programs, check out Cambridge summer school.

What the Opposition Says

• Summer is for fun: Kids need time to relax and recharge and this is what the summer vacation is for. They need this time for unstructured play, which is just as important as their education.

• Learning on vacation: Learning isn’t confined to the classroom. Children need different life experiencesto grow into well-rounded adults. Summer vacation is a good time for the family to do things together and some of these things can be educational, like visiting a museum or a day trip to a nature preserve.

• Letting off the pressure: Kids need a break from school so they have time to be kids. Time at school can be stressful with all the testing and pressure to perform. Why shorten their childhood even more with summer school?

How to Pick a Summer School

If you do decide on a summer school program, you’ll want to pick the right one for your child’s age and ability. Most summer programs are less formal than the regular classroom and kids are taught in smaller groups. The best programs include hands-on learning, sports, field trips and reading and math skills. To make sure your children get the most out of their summer program, enroll them in something they enjoy. For example, if your son is crazy about science but not really sporty, baseball camp will not interest him but science camp will. If your daughter has a talent for learning languages, immersive Spanish classes may be just the thing.

You don’t have to put your kids in classes all through the summer vacation. You could set up a mixture if classes here and there so they get to spend time at home with the family as well as learning.