Every kid looks forward to being free from school and spending the entire summer doing nothing. However, studies are showing that kids experience a loss of academic skills over the course of a summer filled with vegging out in front of the TV. But thanks to a few sneaky ways to learn while having fun, you can keep your kiddos ready for a new grade in the fall!

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Sign up for reading clubs or programs at your library: Getting your kids to read over the summer is a huge accomplishment. Make it even more fun by signing up for reading programs at your library. Most of them offer free reading charts and prizes for books read over the summer, plus these programs are all free! If that isn’t an option, then you can also enroll them in an academic success program.

Download learning apps- The app store is full of educational apps that are extremely helpful for keeping kids on top of math and reading. Most of these apps are free, so there isn’t any excuse not to download them.

Watch educational shows on PBS or Animal Planet- Don’t underestimate how much Word Girl and kid-appropriate shows on the Animal Planet channel can teach your kids!

Write letters to grandparents- Kids love getting mail, and encouraging them to write back and forth to their grandparents is not only fun for both parties, but it also helps kids to continue to hand write over the summer!

Start a business- Whether it’s selling lemonade and chocolate chip cookies, or walking the neighbor’s dogs, get your kids involved with some entrepreneurial endeavor this summer. Chances are they’re probably coming up with ideas already!