Summer Learning Slide - 3 children sitting at the top of a slide looking down

Is the Summer Learning Slide Real? What Parents Need to Know (and How to Prevent It!)

Summer Slide refers to the loss of learning that children experience during summer break. It turns out that studies are mixed on just how serious the summer slide is. Its strongest effects appear to be on early learners in reading and math and students who are already struggling to reach grade level. The good news is, that for most children, it usually only takes a couple weeks at the beginning of the year to get back to where they were at the end of the previous year. Teachers know to plan for this transition. 

Summer is a much needed break from school. It should be a time to relax and pursue personal interests. However, it’s also important for your child to practice and retain the knowledge and skills they have already learned. If they are behind grade level, summer is a great time to catch up. Being prepared for going back to school boosts confidence and makes learning easier. 

Sign up for our Summer Slide Guide and receive:

Everything you need to know about the summer slide: what is it, why should parents care, and what can you do to prevent it. Including:

  • 3 emails with everything you need to know about the Summer Slide
  • Our #1 Tip to Prevent the Summer Slide
  • Summer Reading Tracker + Our Favourite Summer Books
  • My Summer Adventure Journal: Write and draw about your summer adventures to create lasting memories
  • 30 Days of Summer Fun: Activities to practice academic skills through play
  • A Bonus Gift for you: 20% off Alphabites Game Pack

So what should summer learning look like for kids?

Your child is always learning so it’s best to think of learning as a lifelong pursuit, in and out of school. Reading books, having unique summer experiences, and making learning a natural part of everyday life are simple strategies for preventing summer learning loss. 

Books Build Strong Brains 

Summer is the perfect time to grab a book and go on an adventure without leaving the comforts of home. Books take children to places that spark imaginations, invite curiosity, and inspire them to pursue their dreams. Reading about the characters and how they solve problems also helps your child learn about emotions and self regulation. Books benefit the mind and heart. 

Books also build vocabulary and comprehension skills as they contain words that are not commonly used in everyday conversations. Books expose your child to facts, thoughts, and ideas that build background knowledge for future learning. And the most important benefit of reading is that it creates strong family bonds. Shared reading sparks conversations, provides opportunities for learning together, and creates a love of reading.

Reading is one of the most important skills children need and it requires lots of practice. Reading should be a year round activity, including summer break. Seeing progress with our 30 Days of Summer Reading Tracker will motivate your child to keep on reading. We also include a list of our favorite books for summer reading.

Summer Adventures Build Strong Brains

Exposing your child to enriching life experiences builds background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension that makes learning easier. When your child already knows something about a topic, such as bees, butterflies, and trees, they will find it easier to learn about insects and forests in science class. If they have planted and grown seeds in a pot or garden, studying plants will be a breeze. Going on a hike or playing with sand and water at the beach introduces them to topics such as forests, water, sea creatures, weather, and erosion. Life experiences are learning opportunities at any age.

Engaging in social activities exposes your child to other people, thoughts, and ideas. It helps them build empathy, understanding, and acceptance. This makes it easier for them to learn in group settings when they are working with children and adults from diverse backgrounds. 

Your child will have fun recording their experiences with our Summer Adventure Journal. It makes a great keepsake to share with family and for reliving special moments.

    Everyday Life Experiences Build Strong Brains

    We often think that academic learning is what happens at school, but in reality learning happens all the time. We live in a noisy, colorful, shape-filled, and countable world that lends itself to learning the skills associated with school. Colors, letter sounds and shapes, and numbers are all around us. You can easily help your child learn through everyday experiences simply by drawing attention to what they might not already know or notice.

    Children learn best through play. You can teach your child foundational skills for learning to read by turning everyday experiences into playful activities. Our 30 Days of Summer Fun guide is filled with inspiration that makes learning a joyful experience. Sign up below to grab your FREEBIES today!

    Lifelong Learning Doesn’t Stop for Summer: Help Your Child Stay Ahead

    Summer break doesn’t have to become a summer learning slide. Learning is a lifelong experience that happens in and out of school. Reading books, having unique summer experiences, and making learning a natural part of everyday life are easy ways to prevent summer learning loss. If you build learning into summer activities, your child will head back to school feeling confident and ready for their next grade level adventure. 

    We’re here to help you stop the summer slide. Your questions are always welcome. Email us today! And while you’re here, grab your Alphabites Game Pack and make learning to read a playful experience.

    Sign up for our Summer Slide Guide and receive:

    Everything you need to know about the summer slide: what is it, why should parents care, and what can you do to prevent it. Including:

    • 3 emails with everything you need to know about the Summer Slide
    • Our #1 Tip to Prevent the Summer Slide
    • Summer Reading Tracker + Our Favourite Summer Books
    • My Summer Adventure Journal: Write and draw about your summer adventures to create lasting memories
    • 30 Days of Summer Fun: Activities to practice academic skills through play
    • A Bonus Gift for you: 20% off Alphabites Game Pack

     

    References

    Contesse, V. A., Campese, T., Kaplan, R., Mullen, D. A., Pico, D. L., Gage, N. A., & Lane, H. B. (2021). The effects of an intensive summer literacy intervention on reader development. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 37(3), 221-239 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10573569.2020.1765441 

    Kuhfeld, M. (2019). Rethinking summer slide: The more you gain, the more you lose. Phi Delta Kappan. https://kappanonline. org/rethinking-summer-slide-themore-you-gain-the-more-you-lose. https://kappanonline.org/rethinking-summer-slide-the-more-you-gain-the-more-you-lose/ 

    McEachin, A., Augustine, C. H., & McCombs, J. (2018). Effective Summer Programming: What Educators and Policymakers Should Know. American Educator, 42(1), 10. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1173313.pdf 

    Seshadri, Ashok M.D.  (2022). Boost your brain with boredom. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/boost-your-brain-with-boredom 

    Von Hippel, P. T. (2019). Is summer learning loss real?. Education Next, 19(4). Link 

    Von Hippel, P. T., & Hamrock, C. (2019). Do test score gaps grow before, during, or between the school years? Measurement artifacts and what we can know in spite of them. Sociological Science, 6, 43-80. https://sociologicalscience.com/download/vol-6/january/SocSci_v6_43to80.pdf 

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