This 529 savings plan post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board, through my role as a Believer Blogger. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Summer is such a fun time for families – the kids are out of school, so there’s ample time for play and family fun. Unfortunately, this long break can also lead to summer learning loss. Did you know that most students lose some of their math and reading skills over the summer? So while rest and relaxation are important, it’s also crucial to keep children engaged and learning while they’re on break. Learning doesn’t stop outside of the classroom; every day offers us the chance to learn something new. Luckily, there are a lot of easy and fun ways to do this!
Seize Teachable Moments
Children are naturally inquisitive and full of questions, so there are endless teachable moments. If your child wonders why the sky is blue, pull out your phone and read about it on Google together. If you’re at the grocery store, ask for their help counting out the change when it’s time to pay. Making dinner? Ask for help measuring ingredients. Cutting a pizza? Great example of fractions! We are surrounded by opportunities to learn every time we turn on the TV, go online, and do daily tasks. So make sure to take advantage of this and have a few teachable moments every week.
Nurture a Love of Reading
Reading is not only great for your brain; it’s a wonderful way to fill time during long summer days! Start a family tradition of going to the library once a month. Libraries have all kinds of interesting activities happening all the time, so take advantage – and while you’re there, let your child pick out any book they’re interested in. Many children think reading is “boring” because they find school material to be dull. But being allowed to pursue their interests and read something fun can make all the difference. And parents who enjoy reading themselves set a great example, so be sure to check out a book for yourself while you’re there!
Plan for The Future
Did you know that children with a small college savings account – even as little as a few dollars – are 2.5 times likely to attend college than children with no savings account, according to a study by the Center for Social Development? Prioritizing education from day one sets children up for success later in life, so make a point of starting a savings fund for your child and involving them in the process. Summer is the perfect time to do this because you can take advantage of the 529 Summer Jump-Start Promotion and earn free money for the account!
Now through June 30th, 2018, enroll in a new Florida 529 Savings Plan on MyFloridaPrepaid.com and you will earn a $25 contribution into your account. If you choose to set up automatic monthly contributions before June 30th as well, you’ll earn another $25 contribution!
Automatic contributions can be as little as $25 per month, but if you’re on a tight income, you can still participate – there is no application fee and no set payment schedule or amount required, so you can put in as much or as little as you like. This makes it ideal for involving your child with saving for college, since every bit counts! Let your child contribute .25 cents to the fund themselves, and they’ll feel empowered and get an example early on of the importance of saving for higher education.
To get started today, visit MyFloridaPrepaid.com/529JumpStart for more information and to enroll.
How do you prevent summer brain drain?
