Do you have a "summer reading plan" for your child yet? Creating opportunities for your child to practice the skills he or she has acquired during the previous school years prevents learning loss.

Keep the learning sessions fun and frequent -- and, when possible, to join in the fun yourself. Here are some tips that I've found keep my own kids engaged.

I've tried to instill in my own kids a love for learning that extends even into summertime. Remembering the many hours I spent with my sisters "playing school," I make a point of staging an area in our home where my own kids can discover the fun of the game.

Nothing too complicated. A white board, fresh packet of star stickers and a timer is really all it takes. (Maybe a "treat jar," with slips of paper giving small prizes such as a popsicle or family movie night.)

Here are some other ideas to keep the learning fresh and fun.

* Have "Reading Banks." What is something your kids would really like to do or have, that they would be willing to work for? Create a "reading bank," with chips or coins that are placed in the bank for each 30 minutes of reading. When the jar is full, the whole family celebrates!

* Encourage older children to teach younger ones (give them both credit for "learning time" on their charts or in the bank). They can read aloud to each other or do math fact flash cards. Use homework papers from the previous year to create "review sheets." It's even more fun when you add neighborhood kids to the mix! (Don't forget the snacks.)

* "Sneak" learning into games and activities such as Monopoly (making change), baking (doubling recipes is a good way to work with fractions and units), and drawing (see how many geometric shapes they can fit in one picture). On day trips, give kids inexpensive pedometers, and have a contest to see who has the most steps at the end of the day!

* Enhanced Travel Time. Are you planning a long-distance trip this summer? Give each child a map of the route, and have them track the cities as they pass. Go to the library and find books on the history or lore of the area you will be visiting. Play the alphabet game, looking for A-Z on passing license plates and billboards.

Do you have a flexible schedule? Take a chance on a local attraction you see advertised on the roadside. Some of our family's favorite vacation memories have come from visiting places we found on billboards such as the "Lost Sea." 

Learning goals are a great way to fight the doldrums ... and to minimize the learning lost before school starts up again in September!

What is your favorite way to keep kids learning? Are there special places or activities you like to enjoy with your family during the summer months?

Heidi Hess Saxton is a contributor to the AnnArbor.com Parenting Channel, and the founder of the "Extraordinary Moms Network."