by: Janelle Wiebelhaus-Finger
The dreaded summer slide. Not the sun-scaled playground equipment, but rather, the well-researched effects that summer vacation has on children’s academic performance.
Summer does not only affect academic gains made throughout the school year, it can also impact physical gains.
Blue Zones Project Approved schools in Dodge County have incorporated more movement into the school day. This increased activity improves cognitive function as well as physical health. Once the school year ends, however, many students spend more time in front of screens and less time moving. According to an article in the Journal of Public Health, most children — particularly children at high risk of obesity—gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school during summer break (Von Hippel et al, 2007).
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