How To Avoid “Summer Slide”

Summer learning loss impacts many children. Breaks from school can lead to students forgetting material they learned during the year or even losing skills. Lack of structure and routine can be a disadvantage. Below are some suggestions for avoiding losing knowledge and skills during the summer.

Make Reading a Priority

Improving literacy skills can be an important part of summer for both beginner and experienced readers.  Whether your child is learning to read, reading to learn, or somewhere in the middle, it is important to remember that literacy is an ongoing process. Children do not need to be in school to encounter new vocabulary or complex texts that require decoding and comprehension skills. Encourage regular reading for enjoyment during the summer, letting children and teens choose topics they enjoy. Visit libraries for summer reading programs that often incentivize reading and make it fun. Plan a daily family reading time where the whole family reads either individually or together. To learn more about how to encourage reading during the summer, make sure to check out our upcoming blog post on reading tips for the summer. 

Getting Outside

As important as academics are, children need opportunities to learn and belong in different ways. Summer is a great time to explore other avenues to learning. Attending camp and spending time in nature are invaluable learning and growth opportunities for young people. Some camps include leadership activities and experiences that encourage social emotional learning. Camps and summer outdoor programs also often include opportunities to explore new interests that link back to the school curriculum, such as in the area of music, physical activity, science and even math and literacy. These nature based summer activities and experiences are all ways to learn during the summer and avoid summer learning loss.

Engage in Summer Learning Programs, Educational Activities and Trips:

Look into organized programs or explore educational activities focused on the specific interests of your child. Plan trips to the museum, libraries and other historical sites. Finding engaging and interesting reading materials based on the trips you take keeps the process motivating. Follow up with a research activity for your child to strengthen their knowledge. These experiences will strengthen skills and keep the passion for learning strong throughout the summer months.

Hands on Learning, Games and Technology:

Encourage projects that spark curiosity such as building models, cooking, science experiments, and arts and crafts. Play board games that involve strategy, vocabulary, and critical thinking. Use educational apps and games that can make learning fun. Some popular apps include Duolingo (for language learning), and Minecraft Education (for coding and creativity). And do not forget the many educational websites, such as National Geographic Kids, that can help kids learn.  For more on fostering math learning throughout the summer, see our upcoming blog on math skills in the summer.

Work & Volunteering

For teenagers, both paid work and volunteering during the summer offer a wealth of benefits such as time management, financial independence, developing work ethic, building a resume, and exploring a career path. Work and volunteering can extend far beyond summer break too! Such experiences offer real world learning that can not be underestimated.  

Tutoring

One on one tutoring is a great way to avoid the “brain drain” of summer and stay on top of learning. A summer tutor can help set and achieve goals. Working with an experienced tutor can help fill in gaps in learning, provide enrichment, and prepare your child with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to return strong in September. 

Summer slide can be avoided when you make a plan for your child to include reading and math on a weekly basis. For older children that may be at risk of falling behind, you may need more intensive support to avoid the learning loss. Some children can continue to stay on top of their learning through individualized and flexible tutoring that requires less time and commitment. Summer is a time to be with family, spend time in nature and focus on other non-school activities as well. These experiences also build important lifelong skills for your child.  Finding that healthy balance for your family and your child will ensure that summer slide is minimal and can be managed come the fall.