How to Prevent Summer Slide for Your Child? [A Guide for Parents]

What is a summer slide?

During the summer months, children get to trade in their textbooks for pool floats and ice cream cones. While it is a much-needed break for them, it can also lead to what is known as the “summer loss” or “summer slide.” 

It is the tendency for students to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. Summer slide creates a void in academic progress for students, particularly in reading and math skills, hindering kids’ progress. This can lead to a challenging start when the new school year begins, as teachers need to spend reviewing the same material from the previous year. 

Apart from academics, the summer slide can affect children socially, and emotionally. They struggle to keep up with peers which impacts their self-esteem and motivation. 

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Let us dive into learning some effective strategies to prevent summer learning loss

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How to prevent summer slide: 10 easy and effective ways

1. Encourage reading

Reading is one of the most effective ways to prevent summer slide. Encourage your child to read daily by setting aside a specific time for reading. Students typically lose 20-30% of their school year gains in reading during summer. 

Whether it is a captivating novel, a comic book, or a magazine, reading helps keep their mind active and engaged. Make sure that they inculcate the habit of bedtime reading from physical books for better sleep and bonding with parents. 

Daily reading time with your child requires you to slow down, be physically close to them, and be fully present and attentive. Dr. Jade Wu, sleep medicine specialist and researcher at Duke University School of Medicine, says bedtime stories help children sleep better and longer. Sleeping to cuddling and snuggling with your child improves bonding between each other. 

2. Utilize online resources

In this digital age, there are countless education apps and online tutoring services designed to make summer learning fun yet long-lasting. Online sources like Wiingy, Khan Academy, Wyzant, and Duolingo offer interactive tlessons in various subjects. 

Online tutors make sure your child learns according to their own learning styles and at their own- pace. Wiingy is an online tutoring platform that offers one-on-one learning sessions that help students with conceptual understanding, homework help, assignment guides, subject expertise, and more.

Each lesson starts at $28 per hour and enables students and parents to have a free first-trial lesson with verified and experienced subject tutors.

 Working parents find it difficult to teach their children at home by themselves and to leave their children with an in-person tutor due to safety issues. In this situation, parents can easily resort to online tutoring services. 

It gives parents access to a wide range of private tutors anytime and anywhere.

3. Engage in hands-on learning activities

Hands-on learning activities can make education fun and memorable. Try simple experiments, like making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar, or get creative with art projects. These activities encourage curiosity for new concepts and critical thinking. 

For students who struggle with theory subjects like history, and social studies, you can reenact a historical event, or try solving case studies with parents and peers. They can also write poems to improve their English language and overall vocabulary. To develop logical thinking and relatability students can play Monopoly, or any other strategic game. 

4. Do not ignore practicing math every day

Math does not have to be uninteresting. Students typically lose 50-70% of their gains in math. If you incorporate practicing math into daily activities for your child, your child will start developing a love for the subject.

Utilize real-world examples to explain math. For instance, count ingredients, budget groceries or play board games that involve numbers. Your child can also learn math skills through flashcards and online quizzes. These quizzes and trivia tests include MCQ questions, which makes it an easy and fun way to learn math quickly.

5. Enroll children in summer school 

Summer school (or summer camps) can both be fun and educational. Parents need to look for summer schools that focus on subjects like science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEM).  

The benefits of Summer schools or classes are that they do not intend to keep your whole summer busy. So if you are considering summer schooling for your child, you do not have to sacrifice their summer break plans. It comes with dual benefits—enjoying summer break and preventing summer slide. 

For low income families, there are places that may offer free resources and classes like community colleges, public parks, and religious centers.

These summer programs provide structured learning while allowing students to socialize and make new friends. 

6. Utilize technology for summer learning

Digital learning programs, particularly educational games, offer children the opportunity to practice their math and reading skills over the summer. These games create visual connections between concepts and actual gameplay, enhancing students’ understanding and engagement.

Some Scratch online programs teach young children coding. Scratch programs are available on online platforms such as Wiingy, Khan, Academy, and more. 

Technology learning includes audible books. Students who are avid book lovers will love audiobooks that are easily available online. Teachers should encourage parents to take their children to public libraries for summer learning. 

Librarians can help reluctant readers find books that interest them and match their reading level. Many libraries also offer summer reading programs that reward students for their reading efforts.

7. Take your child on educational trips

There are several educational sites and places where you can take your children on trips. Visit and explore museums, zoos, historic sites, and botanical gardens with your children. This activity can be fun and educational. These trips can get students curious and excited about learning.

Educational trips can be of different kinds. Take your child to library stores, and run errands for practical knowledge. These quick trips will help in memory retention.

8. Maintain a consistent routine

Even though it is summer, maintaining a consistent routine can help your child stay on track. Set regular times for waking up, having timely meals, and completing optimum hours of sleep. 

Incorporate time for learning activities, chores, and free play to create a balanced schedule. 

A consistent routine can make the transition back to school less jarring. Children accustomed to daily learning activities find it easier to adapt to the school environment.

9. Embark on extra-curricular activities

Encourage your child to explore their creativity through music, drama, and other forms of artistic expression. You can dedicate a section of time during the evening to all extra-curricular activities. These can include learning a new language, or an instrument, or even experimenting with new activities. 

Indulging in other activities apart from studying can enhance students’ cognitive skills and keep their minds engaged. 

10. Keep a summer journal for learners

Parents can motivate their children to keep a summer journal. They can use this journal to write daily achievements in order to check progress during the summer vacation.

All levels of learners can have a summer journal to write about their own learning journey. These journals can have stories, daily adventures, sketches, and more. 

Journaling regularly helps improve their literacy skills and provides a wonderful benchmark for next summer vacation.

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Impact of summer slide

• Academic consequences

Due to the summer slide, kids lose significant knowledge and tend to lag in their studies, especially in reading and math. 

• Social and emotional effects

Apart from academics, the summer slide can affect children socially and emotionally. Struggling to keep up with peers can impact their self-esteem and motivation.

Additionally, falling behind can lead to decreased confidence and motivation, making students less eager to engage in learning activities. Lack of a proper learning environment can make the transition back to school more challenging. 

For parents, the summer slide brings added pressure to keep their children academically engaged during summer vacation. Providing educational activities and resources can be financially and logically demanding. To overcome learning loss, tutoring platforms like Wiingy and Wyzant offer affordable tutoring sessions. 

To prevent summer slide impact, parents can maintain a structured routine, utilize affordable online educational resources, and integrate fun learning activities into their daily lives.

Other useful resources

Homework Tips for Parents

How to Deal with Exam Stress [Guide for students and parents]

Benefits of Summer School [For Working Moms and Parents]

How to Create a Study Space at Home [Parent’s Guide]

Benefits of Afterschool Tutoring [Parent’s Guide]

Transition from Middle school to High school [A Guide for Parents & Students]

Frequently asked questions

References

Statistics represented by Northwest Evaluation Association and the National Summer Learning Association about learning loss during summer vacation for all levels of learners.

“The Benefits of Bedtime Reading for Kids” written by Wendy Wisner on Sleep.com. Published on November 29, 2023.

“Jade Wu’s New Book on Why You Should Treat Sleep Like a Friend“, authored by Jianna Choi. She has analyzed the book written by Jade Wu. article published on September 7, 2023, by Duke University School of Medicine.