With summer vacation ending in just a few short weeks and the first day of school fast approaching, experts say that some students -- particularly those from lower-income families -- may have fallen behind their peers.
鈥淭heir summers don鈥檛 have a lot of enriching experiences,鈥� Wilfrid Laurier University sociology professor Linda Quirke told 麻豆传媒 Kitchener. 鈥淎t the end of the summer, they come back at a loss.鈥�
The phenomenon, known as 鈥渟ummer setback,鈥� sees kids returning to school in September having lost some of the literacy and numeracy skills they acquired the previous school year.
On the flipside, kids from higher income families often return to school ahead of their classmates because of continued learning activities over the summer break.
鈥淭hey tend to have more books in the house,鈥� Quirke said of parents from high income households. 鈥淭hey tend to do cognitive things with their kids to help them with those reading and math skills.鈥�
Summer camps and educational family activities can also help kids get ahead, Quirke said.
Single parents like Susan King know all too well what Quirke is talking about.
鈥淚 did see some of the grades go down,鈥� King told 麻豆传媒 Kitchener. 鈥淏asketball or hockey or golf camps? 鈥� It was just way too expensive for me to afford for two 鈥� let alone one child.鈥�
According to Quirke, having shorter summer breaks would be beneficial. Things low-income parents can do, Quirke added, include reading to their children, taking them to the library and playing engaging games.
鈥淎dults who have the time to help them with their homework 鈥� of course those kids are at an advantage in terms of school,鈥� Quirke said.
With a file from 麻豆传媒 Kitchener鈥檚 Alexandra Pinto
