Beating the summer brain drain; Jane Gallagher discovers how to help children learn and have fun at the same time.

Byline: Jane Gallagher

SCHOOL is out but already those marketing whizzes are winding us up with their latest "research problems", which of course will cost us lots of money to resolve. One of the most recent to pass my desk, which instantly grabbed my attention, was the shock statistic that children "forget" up to 25 % of their schoolwork during the long summer holidays. And, of course, along with that fascinating fact was the offer to put it all right with an expensive CD and Work book.

However, it did get me thinking. Could it be true that a quarter of everything my children had worked hard to learn has now disappeared into the ether?

Father-of-two Donagh McKillop, who has worked in the teaching profession for the past 25 years, admitted that some knowledge could be lost.

"I understand that after a long break a certain amount of taught knowledge may be lost but we think there are a few ways that this can be limited such as varying teaching methods," says Donagh, head of Clarence High School in Freshfield.

"Rather than going through modules or homework, the summer should remain fun and enjoyable for the children.

"But that doesn't mean that parents can't help. I would say encourage children to read. For older children, it is really important to encourage children to take an interest in current affairs.

Although this may have little to do with the lessons taught in school, it encourages curiosity, learning and mental stimulation."

To find1 out what other parents will be doing this summer, we spoke to two families and asked for their view on this latest research.

"I THOUGHT children would retain most of their knowledge even after a six-week break. As the homework to date is based largely around reading and simple numeracy, this is something which I can carry out on a regular basis, irrespective of school holidays.

"We regularly visit the local libraries together to borrow books and DVDs and often ask them numeric questions throughout the course of the day, eg counting and adding number of Lego blocks, sweets, reading the instructions for baking cakes, etc.

"I also buy a couple of activity books for the children to work on, which they do enjoy doing, especially if I give them my undivided attention.

"During the summer holidays, we tend to have a number of shorter breaks rather than one long holiday. "We have a touring caravan and like to choose sites close to places of interest for the children. For example, on one break we are staying in York so intend to visit the Railway Museum and Eureka in Halifax, which are both very enjoyable for the children while at the same time being educational.

"The boys also love visiting different museums, which we try to fit in. Recently, we have visited the Liverpool Maritime Museum, where the boys made smugglers lanterns, and the World Museum.

"However, like all families not everything we do is educational. While away in the caravan the boys like to explore the surrounding countryside, play on their bikes and with other children - which is just as important for their development.

"I feel that it would be more beneficial all round if the holidays were spread more evenly throughout the year.

"My children are off for seven weeks this year, which is a very long time, especially if the weather isn't good."

Entertaining ways of hanging on to your child's knowledge and your cash

THE LIBRARY Let them explore new topics. Sign out some books with outdoor science experiments (and then let them try the experiments).

Encourage them to read other books by their favourite authors. Talk to the librarian. If you tell them that your child loves mysteries, they will have many suggestions of great books to read. Your kids can read all they want and it won't cost a penny.

Most libraries run activities over the summer too which encourage reading and are rewarded with prizes.

LET THE KIDS COOK Recipes are a wonderful source of fractions, logical thinking and problem solving. If it is hot out, let them make frozen treats, slushes and salads, or other summer foods and in colder weather and warmer dishes such as soup.

LET YOUR KIDS EXPLORE OUTSIDE Nature is right outside your front door. Everything from bugs, to plants, to birds, to water, to weather is waiting to be discovered by your kids.

Get on your hands and knees and join the kids. Put a hula-hoop out on the lawn. How many bugs can you and your kids count inside the hula-hoop? What kind of bugs are they? Watch an ant. How much can it carry? How does it "talk" to other ants? Where is it going?

Let your kids plant something and watch it grow.

LET YOUR CHILD PLAN THE SHOPPING LIST FOR THE WEEK

Then let them do the shopping (with you accompanying them of course). Tell them what the budget is. They have to plan the meals, shop for the ingredients, and stay within budget. Show them how to round up numbers so they can keep a mental tally of everything that is in the shopping trolley.

ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO MOVE Most recreation centres offer free or very cheap taster courses over the summer.

How about tennis, basketball or frisbee in the front garden? Bike rides and walks with picnics.

IF YOU ARE GOING ON HOLIDAY GET THE CHILDREN TO HELP WITH THE TRIP

Where are you going? Put them in charge of looking up the history of the place. Ask them to find places where the family can stop for lunch and a picnic. Sign out some books from the library about the geography of the area. Ask them to find out why everything is so flat or how the mountains came to be.

This will help with research skills more than the knowledge.

REDISCOVER THE LOST ART OF LETTER WRITING

Encourage your kids to write a letter (or draw a picture) and send it to grandma and grandpa (or any other long-distance relative).

Remember, the letter doesn't have to be perfect - it just has to get mailed.

LET YOUR CHILD BE BORED ONCE IN AWHILE A child who is daydreaming is thinking. You do not have to plan every minute of every day. Turn off the TV and turn off the computer games.

Let your children discover new things. It is amazing how inventive children can be when left to their own devices "I AM obsessive about recording things and Grace loves keeping scrapbooks. We take photographs, notes and memorabilia from trips, days out and everything we have done or seen. All of the skills involved support the school curriculum although this wasn't the reason we started doing it.

"For me it is a way of keeping a record of Grace's life but for Grace it is just fun. We have also extended it to doing scrapbooks of different topics she has learned at school which have reinforced the knowledge.

"I don't think I am that worried about losing up to 25% of knowledge because Grace is still in the early stages of education.

"At this age, I feel school holidays should be about play. However, I do realise most young children do learn through play and we do make an effort. I am involved in a toddler group and, one day a week during the summer holidays, we arrange a trip out which is usually to somewhere interesting and educational, which is also fun. In a few weeks, we are off to the museum at Ironbridge. We will also be compiling our own scrapbook so that in years to come we can look back and remember the day but as she is preparing it Grace will be absorbing a lot of information too."

Caroline Jenkinson is managing director of relocation company, North West Property Locators. She lives in Southport and has two sons, Cameron, seven, and Alistair, five

Yvette Owen, of Chester, is mother to Grace, six, and two-year-old James. Yvette runs her own children 's photography business, kidsbeingkids

CAPTION(S):

Donagh McKillop, principal of Clarence High' Even your garden can reveal a wealth of excitement' Grace Owen with her mum Yvetto and the scrapbook of childhood memories Picture: TONY CLIXBY