School might be out for the summer, but learning can still be in. And it should be! While summer vacation is absolutely a time for fun and rejuvenation (okay, for the kids at least), it’s important for parents to be proactive in preventing the summer slide and bridging the gap between the end of one grade level and the start of the next.
As a teacher-turned-mom preparing to return to the classroom in the fall, I’m here to tell you this doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it might sound. You may even find that being intentional about summer learning has benefits beyond good test scores and progress reports. Read on to learn about the “summer slide” and discover practical ways to minimize its impact on your child’s growth and development. With some intentionality and structure, you’ll set your child up for success in the new school year and beyond!
The “Summer Slide” Explained: What It Is and What Causes It
The “summer slide” refers to learning loss that sometimes occurs while children are on hiatus from the classroom over the summer months.1,2 While many factors play into this phenomenon — such as socioeconomic status, length of time spent out of the classroom in the summer vs. in-classroom during the school year, and access to learning opportunities — studies have shown that a pause in targeted instruction can take a toll on children’s academic trajectories.2,3,4
For example, studies have shown that academic achievement scores decline by up to one month’s worth of school-year learning over the course of summer vacation. Additionally, low-income students tend to experience greater learning loss than their higher-income peers. This can lead to gaps in reading, mathematics, and other subject areas.4 While the summer slide isn’t necessarily something all parents need to worry about, it’s definitely something to be aware of.
Whether they’re in early elementary, in high school, or anywhere in between, children who experience the summer slide inevitably have to play catch-up once school is back in session. This can be especially detrimental in kindergarten through second grade. In these grades, foundational learning happens at an accelerated pace and requires structured, consistent practice (for example, rote memorization of sight words).2 When left unaddressed, the learning loss can make it difficult for children to keep up with new material in subsequent grade levels. This may cause them to fall further and further behind their peers as time goes on.
All this said, there’s no need to sweat bullets over the summer slide. You don’t have to keep your children cooped up inside all summer, textbooks and worksheets in tow, to keep them on track. But as our children’s first teachers, we parents and caregivers can create meaningful learning opportunities in everyday life — dog days of summer included. By incorporating engaging activities, outings, and routines into summer days, we can help our children continue to build academic skills, all while leaving plenty of room for summer fun and magical memory-making.
Here are some practical ways to proactively steer clear of summer learning loss and ensure the summer months are full of growth, discovery, and continued learning:
1. Read and Learn Together at Home
If this is already a part of your family’s routine, kudos to you. Keep it up! If not, summer vacation is the perfect time to start reading to and with your children. Let your little learners choose books that interest them or curate a weekly in-home “library” to support their changing needs and preferences. Then, set aside a designated time every day to read together. You can do this in the breakfast nook over fresh pancakes and (your) coffee, outside on the porch before your daily walk to the local park, or simply while winding down at bedtime.
2. Take “Field Trips” to New and Old Places
Science museums, historical sites, nature centers, art galleries, libraries, you name it . . . the options are endless. Get creative and make room on the calendar for plenty of hands-on visits to educational attractions this summer, and watch your child’s enthusiasm for knowledge grow. Whether you’re checking something out for the first time or the third, field trips are a fun and natural way to acquire (or reinforce!) knowledge.
Sure, roasting marshmallows around the fire pit and spending afternoons swimming in the lake might come to mind here. But modern-day summer camp options stretch far beyond “camp” in the traditional sense. You might be surprised at what’s out there if you do a bit of research! From coding camps to arts and crafts camps and so much more, summer camp options are worth looking into. These can be especially helpful for working parents who need somewhere to send their children while school is out!
Tutoring is one of the most surefire ways to keep kiddos on track over summer vacation. Private individual or group tutoring sessions offer pinpointed instruction designed to support your child’s unique academic needs and goals. Many certified teachers provide tutoring services at reasonable rates, especially during the summer months. Depending on your child’s age and learning style, you might even consider virtual tutoring services.
For many families, gone are the days of technology-free summers. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. Online learning platforms are abundant and can be convenient tools for avoiding — or at least minimizing — the summer slide. For starters, check out the following:
This is an award-winning early reading and mathematics app for children ages 2-8. ABCmouse was a staple in my kindergarten classroom tablet center at the start of my teaching career, and I’ve continued using it with my own kiddos. Little ones love earning virtual tickets for customizing various “locations” within the app, such as their avatar, an aquarium, and a pet park. You’ll love the results!
Another praised option, Reading Eggs is geared toward children ages 2-13 and provides research-based reading instruction. This program uses the Science of Reading approach. It covers phonemic awareness (the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in words), phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension skills, and reading fluency.5 Plus, it’s ad-free, is kidSAFE certified, and includes a free trial for up to four children.
Apart from its highly interactive website full of songs, educational video clips, printable activities, and more, PBS Kids offers several educational apps. These apps feature beloved characters and will feel like pure fun for your learner. Play and Learn Science, Wild Kratts Creature Math, and SUPER WHY! Power to Read are just a few of many that you’ll find on the platform.
This research-based, objectives-aligned app is a highly interactive English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics platform for kindergarten through fifth grade. Many activities on Starfall are free, with additional offerings available for a low-cost membership price. This was another favorite in my former classroom, and I think you’ll quickly see why. The graphics and animations are SO kid-friendly and catchy!
Khan Academy offers an endless selection of lesson plans, practice questions, printables, videos, and more for children in pre-K all the way through high school (and some AP/college-level courses). You’ll find everything from preschool social-emotional learning to college entrance exam prep, making it a go-to from one grade level to the next. With its top-tier free resources and user-friendly app, Khan Academy has something for every student.
While this was designed for teachers to buy and sell teacher-made learning material, anyone hoping to avoid the summer slide will appreciate it. TPT features thousands of ready-to-use activities, worksheets, and other digital and printable resources for every grade level and subject matter imaginable. Although the majority of offerings on TPT are paid, many teacher-creators offer free samples for instant download and use.
Who doesn’t love getting something on the front porch each month?! There’s a subscription box out there for everyone these days, and the learning-at-home community is no exception. Signing up for an educational subscription box is a truly hands-on way to keep the learning process new, exciting, and in motion all summer long. These are our favorites:
Designed by a teacher/mom, this educational subscription box caters to children ages 2-5 and provides everything your kiddo needs for hours of targeted learning through play. The Baby Chick team got to try out the different boxes they offer and loved them! Each box features simple instructions for caregivers as well as educational crafts, learning games, and sensory activities. Learning With Kelsey is a win-win, as it encourages at-home early learning and parent-child bonding!
This is another subscription box option that’s perfect for supporting early childhood learning. Highlights Learning Boxes are available for children in or entering preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. These boxes aim to build kids’ skills through practice book puzzles and write-on/wipe-off activities. Each activity is designed to take only 15 minutes, so your child won’t feel like they’re missing out on their regularly scheduled summer fun.
KiwiCo is a trusted subscription box company that sparks creativity and curiosity in children and teens of all ages, which our team has also tested and highly recommends. Its boxes support learning in areas like geography, culture, art, and science. With DIY activities like a Japanese carp windsock kit, wooden clock kit, handmade soap kit, and desktop pinball machine kit, KiwiCo is a solid choice if your kid learns best through projects and experiments.
7. Play Board Games and Other Educational Games Together
Hear me out: I’m not just talking about the classics we all grew up with and loved. (Although games like Monopoly are perfect for building financial literacy and real-life skills!) If your child is as young as preschool age, board games and other educational toys can be an excellent tool for supporting academic growth and encouraging learning through play. Here are a few worth checking out:
- Count Your Chickens: This award-winning cooperative game is perfect for practicing numbers, counting, and teamwork with your preschooler. (For ages 3+)
- Snug as a Bug in a Rug: Colors, shapes, counting, and numbers . . . this game has it all wrapped up in one kid-friendly format. (For ages 3+)
- Scrabble: Suitable for older children and teens, Scrabble seamlessly encourages spelling practice, vocabulary growth, and critical thinking skills. It’s a classic that never gets old! (For ages 8+)
- Learning Resources Toys and Games: Smart Snacks Alpha Pops (for ages 2+), Magnetic Apple Fractions (for ages 5+), and tri-FACTa Multiplication and Division Game (for ages 8+) are some of the many must-haves from this educational toy company. Learning Resources sets are a popular choice in the classroom, so you can rest assured they’re well-suited for continued learning at home.
Summer vacation is in full swing, which means it’s time to unwind. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to let all the year’s hard-earned knowledge unravel. While the “summer slide” is a real thing, with the right tools, it doesn’t have to slow your child’s academic journey. Summer is the perfect time to continue learning and keep the momentum going. I hope these tips and recommendations help your child do just that!