Summer gives kids a much-needed break from school, one they want to spend relaxing, playing and hanging out with friends. While there’s nothing wrong with some downtime, education experts stress that kids also need to be building on the skills they learn during the year or they risk experiencing what’s known as the “summer slide.”
“Summer slide is a term educators use to describe the amount of progress a student loses during the summer when they are not applying their academic skills,” says Dr. Curby Alexander, an associate professor in the College of Education at Texas Christian University and former fourth grade teacher. Studies have shown that kids can lose as much as 28% of their reading gains and 34% of math gains over the summer break.
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But there are things parents can do to make sure this doesn’t happen to their kids. Here’s what education experts recommend to prevent the summer slide:
- Play games as a family – Let kids practice counting and reading while having fun.
- Encourage them to read every day – A chapter or two of their favorite book is good, but getting them to join a summer reading program at the library is even better.
- Make time for unstructured play – This encourages creativity, mind-wandering, and connecting with family and friends.
- Have open-ended family conversations – Turn everyday interactions into learning moments by asking your kids to estimate the cost of items at the grocery store, explain how they would solve a simple math problem, or describe the new bug they saw at the park. This helps them practice self-expression and clear thinking.
- Assign shared responsibilities – Give them goals to accomplish around the house, like watering plants, folding laundry, and setting the table to build their sense of accomplishment.
- Schedule playdates – Head to the park or a backyard and let them build language, social skills and gross-motor confidence while playing with other kids.
- Plan regular outings – Weekly trips to the library, a nature trail, or community event can help spark new questions and discovery, and even better? These activities can be completely free!⠀
Source: Parents
