With the end of the school year fast approaching, many families are making summer plans. While that may mean family vacations, trips to the river and days spent playing outside, it is also a great time to consider involving children in summer learning activities.

While many children will groan at the thought of that, the reality is it can, and should be, fun, and there are many benefits.

Research shows students who participate in summer learning:

•Retain what they have learned: Staying engaged in learning increases the likelihood that students will retain the information they worked hard to learn during the school year.

•Improve social skills and make new friends: Participating in summer activities allows students to interact with students from other schools.

•Preparedness for the following school year: By maintaining learning, students walk in to the first day of school with more confidence, adjust better to the routine of the school day, and will be ready to learn new skills vs. spending time relearning content from the previous year.

How can you help your child combat the summer slide syndrome while still having lots of time for other summer activities? Come participate in the “Mathmobile” and “Books on the Bus.”

Arlington Public Schools is excited to offer two summer learning opportunities at no cost. The Mathmobile will be running again and will be staffed with three certificated teachers and three paraeducators who will provide play-based math instruction to participants. While the instruction is geared toward elementary students, preschoolers and middle school students are also encouraged to participate. The Books on the Bus is back for the fifth summer and is an opportunity for students to check out books, read with an adult and engage in fun reading games.

Here are the dates, times and locations for the two programs: Mathmobile – Mondays, June 25-Aug. 12. Bookmobile – Wednesdays, June 27-Aug. 14.

9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Mobile Estates on 67th Avenue; 10:30 – 11:30 Crown Ridge (Crown Ridge Blvd and Vista); 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. Timbers Apartments; 1:30 – 2:30 Presidents Elementary; and 2:45 – 3:45 Eagle Creek Elementary.

Terri Bookey is the director of Early Learning and Categorical Programs for the Arlington Public Schools, which has a monthly column in this newspaper.