Now that summer is officially here, parents and children are excited to start their summer vacation. But just because school's out doesn't mean we should take a vacation from learning. Research shows that children who don't read over the summer lose some of the literacy skills they learned during the year, and have a difficult time adjusting to school in the fall. So try out these fun activities from ABC Life Literacy Canada to keep skills sharp all season long!

1. Follow a recipe together and make a dish for a summer picnic. It's a fun way for your family to practise reading, math and comprehension.

2. This summer's Olympic Games offer so many learning opportunities! Count the medals Canada receives, research a sport like fencing or map out the city of London.

3. Road trip! When traveling in the car, read signs, billboards and licence plates together and show your children how to find your destination using a map.

4. Head to the beach with a good book! Not only are there some great summer reads out there, but children learn from their parents, so let them catch you reading.

5. Zoo outings and visits to museums and galleries can be fun and educational. Be sure to read all the descriptions on exhibits and displays.

6. Don't forget to write! Send friends and relatives postcards from different places along the way, or better yet, send one to yourself as a visual reminder of your trip.

7. Bring some board games up to the cottage for a family game night. Board games are a fun way to improve literacy skills!

8. On a rainy day, surf the Internet for information on your hobbies, or the latest summer movies.

9. Create a family trip mini-blog to share with friends and family. It's easy using services like Tumblr.com

10. Scrap it: Build a book of memories during your trip. Tape in pictures, souvenir tickets and brochures and ask family members to write in comments and captions.