For children, summer is a break from the classroom and a time to play outside, have fun with friends and enjoy family vacations. Summer can also be a great opportunity to help children enhance math, reading, and writing skills, and prepare for the upcoming school year.

According to Sylvan Learning Center, students can lose one or two months' worth of reading and math skills during the summer, which could prove troublesome the following school year. Summer is an important time for parents to share in everyday learning activities with their children and help keep them learning all summer long.

To help keep children's minds active during the school break, Sylvan Learning Center is offering parents a free "Summer Fun and Learning Guide for Parents" activity booklet. Interactive educational projects in the booklet help nurture reading, writing and math skills, and are fun for the whole family.

Sharing fun learning activities can help children improve their attitude toward learning and provides a great opportunity for busy families to spend quality time together during the summer months. The booklet offers parents numerous grade-specific learning activities to help keep children learning with fun and engaging projects.

Sample activities include:

• Let's Plan a Vacation. Half the fun of a trip happens before you even go. Help plan, coordinate and keep a travel journal of your family's summer vacation.

• Create a Cookbook. Develop your own cookbook this summer to share your favorite foods and snacks with others. Ask friends and relatives to send you their favorite recipes.

• Make Your Own Sidewalk Chalk. Use the sidewalk chalk to sketch your favorite animals, shapes or hopscotch patterns.

• Design a T-shirt Journal! Use fabric markers or paint to write notes or draw pictures on a t-shirt. Your teachers and friends will be able to see all the fun you had this summer when you wear your t-shirt on the first day of school.

• Plant a Mystery Garden. Combine and plant a variety of unmarked flower or vegetable seeds. It's up to you to grow the plants and figure out what they are!