When it comes to math skills, reinforcing concepts is probably the most practical step that parents can take for their kids during the summer. Everyday situations can be used as learning situations. For example, let kids be in charge of figuring out how much things cost: what will be the total cost of a day at the pool, what's the difference in how much it would cost to buy treats from the ice cream truck or from the grocery store, and how much more water does it take to fill the wading pool than a bucket.
Play games that reinforce math skills. For example, younger children can get lots of practice counting when they play board games. Playing Yahtzee is an excellent way to practice multiplication skills. Also, a myriad of computer games are designed to reinforce math skills.
Approach the idea of reading and writing during the summer as simply other ways to have fun. Many libraries sponsor programs that offer incentives such as free books to keep kids reading throughout the summer. In addition to encouraging kids to read books, parents might keep in mind that reading shorter items is just as helpful in improving reading skills. For example, parents might clip out articles from newspapers and magazines about kids' current interests. Pamphlets and brochures available from the U.S. Government are easily downloaded and cover a whole array of topics kids might like---bats, for example, or women who made history. Books that are meant to be leafed through or read in sections also are appealing to kids; consider such topics as books with two-minute mysteries, magic tricks, how things work, trivia, brain teasers and even jokes and riddles.
Provide some simple and short writing ideas for kids; keep in mind that using the computer will add to the appeal of writing nearly anything. Younger kids might like to make alphabet books using clip art or type up little stories they can print out and illustrate. Older kids might tackle the job of writing copy for the family album or even writing a short family history; a variation of this idea is to write a part of the family history into skit form for visiting cousins to present at the family reunion. The family vacation provides an opportunity for keeping a journal and/or scrapbook recording details of each day; some kids will particularly like doing this online in the form of a blog.