How Summer Is Making U.S. Kids Dumber and Fatter
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July 18 (Bloomberg) -- It’s July, and for many of us, thatbrings back fond childhood memories of family vacations, summercamp or long, happy days spent playing with friends. But thisquaint notion of summers as a kids’ paradise is dangerouslymisleading, evidence from social research suggests.
After spending the summer away from the classroom, childrenreturn to school one month or more, on average, behind wherethey were when the previous year ended. Kids also tend to put onweight in the summer two to three times faster than they doduring the school year.