Summer freedom can be a summer frenzy of fun and games. Summer freedom is exemplified by conscious trust that what awaits is another year of success with calmness. Summer tyranny comes to the rest. It is experienced in the consciousness of parents who know that regardless of what the report card says, their child's mastery of skills is most likely incomplete. Rather than a vacation, summer is simply a time to recharge their batteries as they prepare for the next dreaded year.
Fear takes a tyrannical hold of the parent and, all too often, the child.
It is reasonable that a family worn out by the long after-school hours of homework and test preparation would want to take the summer off. However, the fact that mastery of new work was difficult for a child during the school year means that it may still be difficult the next school year. The way to help your child be ready for the next school year is not necessarily by giving him a head start. It is, however, by making sure your child walks into school with the foundation he will need to add new skills. You may use your fear to paralyze and do nothing but silently live in dread.