It’s that time of year and scheduling summer activities for your middle school is akin to looking at a packed menu for a restaurant. Certainly tons of options, but which ones are good and which ones are a waste of time? Here’s something to think about. Research tells us that middle school and elementary students lose about a fifth of the reading and a third of the math skills that they learned during the school year over summer break.
Highlight the program that will best suit your middle schooler’s specific needs because that will allow for a seamless transition and alleviate the loss over summer break. Developing skills over the summer will also allow him or her to progress to the next grade level with many of the skills that are needed for advanced performance in the next grade level. Above and beyond the loss of skills, that is a summer to remember and is completely over the summer instead of being a school year obligation
Understanding Your Middle Schooler’s Needs
Evaluating the needs of your specific child is the best place to start. Steer clear of the glitzy brochures of programs designed for the masses. These programs are less likely to hit the target because every middle school student is their own individual
Academic Interests and Goals
Observe your child closely. What lights them up when they talk? Do they enjoy talking about robotics projects? Or do they get lost in their own worlds writing stories or drawing detailed characters? These are your clues.
Discuss with them the subjects they would like to pursue further. Some children understand they need help with their less challenging goals, while some others would like to spend more time on topics they already master. Neither is the better or worse option.
Social Development Stage
This is true, middle school social environments and situations are complex and sometimes uncomfortable. Some children are fully ready to spend the night away with new peers, and some need the comfort of their own room each night. Both are perfectly okay.
When exploring summer programs for middle schoolers, You’ll find different levels of comfort are offered in the different closing camps, and the focus of the activities is also different. Some are more tilted towards collaborative work in large teams, and others are more about supporting independent work.
Personal Growth Opportunities
How might summer be able to help your child develop skills beyond the ones they learn in school? What about the ability to speak in front of a crowd? How about the development of better organizational skills? What about learning to be brave in new situations?
Good summer programs for kids in middle school include components that slowly help kids move outside of their current comfort zone in a way that is gentle. This might include things like having to present to an audience, working in a team with people they do not know, or trying new things that they have never done.
Key Program Features to Consider
You have created a map of your child. Now the hard task of assessing what programs do what they say they will do.
Program Focus and Curriculum
Consider the detailed experience of the day. Are the children getting materials and doing hands-on activities, or are they mostly listening to a teacher with a presentation? Here is a statistic that captures this reality. In 2023, 95 percent of public schools that had summer programs employed full-time teachers, and most of them were open four or more days a week. That is a serious commitment to the level of education.
Being able to understand how to select a summer program also includes a careful look at the curriculum. Some programs give the students the power to choose activities and workshops from different designs for their plans. Other programs have a more rigid structure that is designed to systematically develop specific skills.
Location and Format
Evaluate the area in which your child will be learning. In-person classes provide immeasurable interaction and hands-on learning. Learning Virtually offers more flexible learning hours, but requires more self discipline as well as technology.
University based summer residential programs for middle schoolers give the children first hand experience living in university dorms and practicing independence. For some families, day programs that allow children to go home at the end of the day provide more convenient scheduling and lessen the cost.
Duration and Schedule
Different training programs last anywhere from a week to a whole summer. A week-long training program could provide kids an opportunity to explore various fields of interest. A whole summer program could lead to advanced skills development on a specific subject. The timing of your holiday and your work schedule is important as well.
Your child can enroll in one of the several summer enrichment programs in middle school that is offered in a half-day. Others provide activities from the morning up to the evening. Consider the amount of structure that your child requires as well as what works best with your schedule.
Making the Right Choice
You have completed your information gathering. You have a grounded understanding for what your child needs, what is available in the programs, and what lies ahead. Decision making should not feel stressful.
Research and Comparison
Start a basic list of programs that fit what childs interests and what your family can feasibly do. Read reviews, they can provide valuable insights, but keep in mind the subjective nature, as every child is different.
Use the sites to see what the programs offer in terms of safety, schedules, staff, and overall organization to determine what they offer to help and what they expect parents to manage. You should have confidence in a program that will answer your questions in a timely and detailed manner.
Involving Your Child
Consult your middle schoolers about options. Describe what is available and what the middle schoolers. Sometimes, options are overwhelming and simplifying choices is helpful.
They might surprise you with what they want to do and will likely recognize a program with elements that strike their interest.
Your Questions Answered
What if my child doesn’t want to attend any summer program?
Try to understand them first. Are they worried that they are going to miss hanging out with friends? Are they going to lose their free time? Consider a program that is flexible, one that is only a week long and does not take up your whole summer.
How far in advance should I register for programs?
By early spring, popular programs are full. When the fall or winter comes around, start looking for programs and try to have them registered by late mono. Remember that many programs accept applications after spring. Don’t worry if it’s April or May and you are just starting to free up this time.
Do high-cost programs justify their investment?
Not at all. Programs that are expensive are often no better than affordable programs. Some costly programs may have slightly better teaching ratios, have access to better tools, or are in nicer locations compared to their cheaper counterparts, but that does not mean that they are better programs overall. There are plenty of inexpensive programs that are also great. Look at the programs content, the instructors, and how they fit in with your child, and stop assuming that better programs have to cost a lot of money.
Wrapping Up Your Summer Program Search
In the end, the most important thing when picking a program and summer activity is to know and understand your child well and how their needs and requirements fit in with your available options. Try not to feel the pressure of finding the “perfect” answer, as no program is perfect. Try to find a program that is well aligned and provides a reasonable fit with your child’s interests and what your family is looking for, and your available budget. Any activity where your middle schooler feels safe, and is also engaged, they will learn and grow from the experience. Trust your instinct as a parent, include them in the decision, and if things don’t work out with the activity you choose, that is also perfectly fine as you will have the opportunity to try new things next summer!