Get Kids Leaping and Learning This Summer at Free LeapFrog Summer Camp #Infographic

Woo Hoo! The summer is finally here! Okay, now what are we going to do? With summer beginning and schools ending, some families are ready to travel for some summer fun, many parents are wondering how to keep their kids learning during the summer. Good news, there is a new, free 8 week LeapFrog Summer Camp program designed to keep kids actively learning and having fun while school is out. 

How can your child participate in the LeapFrog Summer Camp? Very simple, begin by signing up for free with LeapFrog. Following arents will receive a set of tools selected by LeapFrog's Learning Team that include free printables, activities, articles, videos and more to help parents and children have a fun-filled holiday and combat summer learning loss. The program has already received over 20,000 sign ups.

Minimal educational reinforcement during the summer months can cause a setback to children's academic progress, most commonly found in the subject areas of mathematics and science. The result of this learning loss is that students and teachers very often will have to spend valuable class time reviewing previously learned topics in the Fall when the new school year begins.

"We wanted to take a positive approach by turning the summer brain drain into summer brain gain," said Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos, Director of LeapFrog's Learning Team. "At LeapFrog, we are focused on helping children get the best start in life. By offering free resources that make summer learning fun for both parents and children, we can encourage a child's love of learning and help them stay on track beyond the classroom."

LeapFrog designed their free Summer Camp program to provide families with free, fun, educational resources including a United States map coloring page, math fun tips in the kitchen, bingo games, and creative art projects with songs. Each week of the eight week program has a different theme and materials covering skills in math, reading, science, creativity, and more. Parents and children will get to enjoy some extra summer fun with a chance to win a weekly prize pack valued at approximately $250. 

Participating in the LeapFrog Summer Camp is geared toward the learning skills of children between the ages of three and eight. LeapFrog has come up with a few easy tips that can help parents, grandparents and caregivers to keep children actively learning while having fun during the summer months:

1. Go on field trips. 
Let the child be in charge of planning a small aspect of the trip, such as what to pack in your picnic lunch.
Encourage children to be inquisitive and observant as they see new places and meet new people. Show them that learning can occur beyond the walls of their classroom, and more importantly, that learning is FUN! 

These field trips are also a great way to keep minds and bodies active. One study has found that children gain weight three times faster during the summer months, often gaining as much during the summer as they do during the rest of the year combined. In the absence of PE classes, recess, and sports classes, it's important to keep children active and healthy during the summer.

2. Let the child be the teacher. 
Play school, and have children do the teaching by sharing something new, reading a book out loud, or walking through the steps he or she takes to solve a mathematics equation. 

3. Harness the power of educational technology.
Technology can be a useful teaching tool, especially while on the go. Mobile devices can keep kids entertained while they learn, if given the right tools. Look for devices and content designed to address specific learning objectives that are developmentally appropriate, and fun.

For more information and to sign-up for LeapFrog Summer Camp, please visit leapfrog.com/summercamp