SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – Summer vacation is fast approaching for most children, and this week journalist and parent educator Donna Tetreault joins ABC4 to talk about the importance of social and emotional learning during the end of school.

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According to Tetreault, it is common for learning loss to occur during the summer months when children are out of school, with some children losing up to 40% of the gains they made during the school year. .

Tetreault says teachers and school districts will be busy this summer seeing what they can do to help remedy this “summer slide.”

“The key to helping them is through social and emotional practices and through learning,” explains Tétreault.

According to Tetreault, school districts will be busy training their teachers on these social and emotional practices as well as expanding their mental health programs.

But what can parents do to help their children during the summer?

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Tetreault says school districts are asking parents to “try to find positive ways to manage life, school and friends” to help them adjust better and return to class.

“We know that when children are happy at school, they do better at school,” adds Tetreault.

However, she also says that it’s important to keep things fresh.

“Be outside as much as possible. Field trips, new adventures; even if it just goes to the beach, ”she said.

According to Tetreault, doing this will provide children with incredibly important opportunities for hands-on learning.

But what should parents spend their time and money on to benefit their child?

Tetreault says it depends on the child and the parent.

“You don’t really need to teach them that summer school in math or reading. Find something that brings them joy. Make sure they spend more time with their extended family, ”says Tetreault.

“We don’t want them to become so rigid that they have to be in a classroom to move forward,” she adds.

What brings the most joy to your child will provide your child with the learning opportunities they need, says journalist and parent educator.

As students prepare for what is hopefully a more “normal” school year, Tetreault says it’s important for parents to check in daily on how their children are doing emotionally.

Tetreault explains that it is enough to ask your child “How do you feel today?” and letting them identify those emotions is a step in the right direction.