Some of my past columns deserve to be resurrected. One of my readers recently wrote to tell me that she keeps one of the columns tacked up on her kitchen bulletin board.

She told me that "Summer Brain Rot" was her favorite column. It prompted her to turn off the television and engage her two children in meaningful summer activities.The kids signed up for a library program, spent time swimming and learning new skills in the water, learned to do Sudoku puzzles, and camped out in the yard over a weekend. They put up the tent, made dinner over a campfire, and studied the stars with a guide.I was happy to hear that the column had helped her family have a great summer. It got me to thinking about other families who might benefit from those ideas. So, I am resurrecting "Summer Brain Rot." If you already have it tacked up in your kitchen, forgive me.Summer brain rotOne of the worst diseases your child can catch between June and September is the dreaded "Summer Brain Rot." Although it is never fatal, this disease can slow a child's mental processes and prevent him from reaching his full potential.Summer is a great time for kids. They love playing outdoors, sleeping late, and taking a break from school work. Family vacations are usually arranged during the summer months and are typically recreational in nature: camping, seashore, amusement parks, and visits to relatives.The cause of summer brain rot is three months of not having to think. Symptoms include a dull stare (from eyes fixed on television all day), sore fingers (from constant video gaming), bloodshot eyes (from staying up later than normal), and the frequent use of the word "Huh?" (from not having to think of a better word to use).How can parents prevent summer brain rot in your child? Here are some suggestions that might help you.1. Insist that your child spends at least 30 minutes a day reading something. Take him to the library once a week. Sign him up for the summer library reading program.2. Organize some meaningful activities for your child. Cook simple family meals making careful notice of recipe measurements. Plant a garden with research on proper care. Let him rearrange his room with some thought given to redecorating.3. Let him find a job. No matter how old your child is, there is some task or chore he can do for you, a relative, or a neighbor. Older children can obtain gainful employment by creating their own business: pet walking, yard work, grocery shopping, housecleaning, or baby-sitting.4. Have your child keep a summer journal that lists daily activities, trips taken, people visited, and movies watched. At the end of the week, sit together and read the journal as a review of what happened each week.5. Get your child interested in the daily news through either the newspaper or television. Have him follow a certain news story and be able to converse with you about it.6. Send your child to summer school or day camp. Many school districts offer free enrichment programs during the summer.7. Have someone teach your child a new sport: golf, tennis, fishing, biking, rafting. Most important teach your child to swim. Drowning is a leading cause of summer deaths among children. Even the very youngest child can be taught to float.8. Take a walking tour of the nearby town. You can spend an inexpensive day just roaming around local villages and checking out the main streets. Let your child follow a map.9. Set up a weather station in your yard with a thermometer, barometer, rain gauge and windsock. Let your child serve as the family weatherman. Nightly reports can be issued at dinner time.10. Camping in your own yard can be a great experience for your family. Let the child help set up the tent, plan a meal over the campfire, and watch the summer stars at night.Certainly summer is a time for play. However, all play and no work make your child a candidate for this disease. Summer brain rot will never have a telethon to help find a cure. You parents need to do that on your own.If you would like to contact Dr. Smith, she can be reached at her email address: jsmith1313@cfl.rr.com or in care of this newspaper.