This year, our summer activities focus on social studies. Our purpose is to excite children about this topic so they will return to school with a greater interest in it as well as increased knowledge. Each week you will be given several activities. Choose the ones that are both age-appropriate and enjoyable for your children. You'll find more social-studies activities in the resources section of www.dearteacher.com under activities.

Make this week an exploratory one in which you and your children visit several Web sites together so that you can bookmark those that have appealing activities for your children. A good place to start is at www.kids.gov. This is the official portal of the U.S. government. It has games and activities for different age levels as well as links to other sites. Another good site is the National Parks Web site at www.nps.gov/learn. It offers many games and activities through its Junior Rangers and WebRangers programs. Use a search engine, if you wish, to find more "social studies fun for kids."

Question: School has let out in our area for two and a half months. I understand that such a long break causes children's achievement to decline so much so that the start of the new school year has to be devoted to review. What are the secrets to keeping younger kids sharp academically during this long vacation? — For Challenges

Answer: Most parents read to their children, and there are opportunities everywhere for children to read, so reading skills can actually improve over the summer. This doesn't mean that you don't have to set up opportunities for your children to read. Try to involve them in library programs and set up a special family reading time (30 minutes daily).

It's in the area of math that all parents have to make a determined effort to keep their children's skills sharp, as these skills are likely to decline. Today, there are loads of Web sites that have intriguing math games and activities that are far more fun than workbooks with drills. Plus, our Web site (dearteacher.com) offers ways to build math skills in the resources section under both summer math activities and skill builders.

Besides looking for math ideas online, be sure to play age-appropriate games that employ some math with your children. For the younger set, there are board games in which children advance spaces by using dice or a spinner. Older children can play more challenging games, from Monopoly to Dominoes to Twenty-one.

Strike a balance between playtime and some intellectual activity during the long days of summer. It's fun to visit amusement parks, but it also can be fun to visit museums, historical sites, factories and farms. Remember, children learn so much from their experiences, so try to expand their horizons this summer.

Send questions and comments to Dear Teacher, in care of this newspaper, Box 395, Carmel, IN 46082-03295, or log on to www.dearteacher.com, or e-mail DearTeacher@DearTeacher.com.