Want to help your children keep up their academic skills over the summer? Here are some tips from the experts:

1. Set aside at least 20 minutes each day for reading.

2. To keep writing skills fresh, buy children a notebook and let them decorate the cover. Then tell them it's their vacation journal and have them write down three things that happen each day.

3. To keep up math skills, buy books of number puzzles (found at any bookstore). Also consider investing in math-related computer games.

4. Find ways to make hobbies educational. A child who loves to collect baseball cards, for instance, could practice penmanship by writing fan letters to players. He could also work on math skills by tracking players' statistics and sharpen up on reading by taking out books on baseball from the library.

5. If you're taking a family vacation, bring home brochures that describe the history and culture of the places you'll be visiting. Try plotting out the trip on a map with your kids.