As summer arrives, students may be excited to relax and take a break from their academics. However, while summer break can offer much-needed relaxation and recharge, for many children it also means slipping further behind academically. This occurrence is called Summer Slide, referring to students failing to remember their academic skills over the summer break when they are not engaged in structured learning. What exactly is Summer Slide, and how can it be prevented?
What is Summer Slide?
The Summer Slide is defined as a distinct learning loss students experience when they are out of school for summer break. Since 1996, the summer slide has concerned researchers who have discovered that kids lose significant knowledge in reading and math over the summer months. A recent study showed “children in 3rd and 5th grade lost on average, about 20% of their school-year gains in reading and 27% of their school-year gains in math (Austrew, 2022).” Other research has shown that children who do not read at all over the summer experience a loss in their reading skills equivalent to an entire grade level, while children who read six books during the summer maintain or improve their reading skills.
Who is most at Risk?
The primary cause of the Summer Slide is a lack of academic stimulation during the summer months. With the absence of an academic structure, students will often spend their downtime on activities that may not stimulate the brain.
Summer Slide can impact children of all ages, but it significantly impacts younger children. This is because they are in a crucial stage in their development. Kids often learn a lot more in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade than they do in middle school and high school. The first few years of grade school are where children learn their basic skills such as addition, subtraction, readin,g and writing. These topics are often considered the building blocks of education. Children from low-income families are also at greater risk of falling behind their peers during summer break. Access to resources like books and educational programs that help stimulate the mind can be very limited. This can make it very difficult for children to maintain or develop their academic skills.
Ways to Keep Children Learning
Fortunately, there are methods that can help stop the Summer Slide from happening and ensure that children continue to learn during their summer break.
1. Encourage Reading
Encouraging children to read helps enhance their vocabulary, nurture their imagination, and boost their comprehension skills. Before bed, during the day, or in the morning, create a time for reading. To make reading fun, visit the local library or look around your town for free libraries created at street corners near schools or churches.
2. Educational trips or activities
Taking a trip to a museum, zoo, or even a historical landmark offers the opportunity for children to ask questions and learn while having fun. The best part is that many of these places often offer student discounts and even have free admission days. Summer learning programs can also help students learn with fun activities like STEM projects, nature walks, arts and crafts, and reading and writing challenges.
3. Hands-on learning
Hands-on activities promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity for students. Children should participate in hands-on activities they are interested in; this helps them want to learn. At home, parents can also cook with their children; this gives kids the opportunity to explore reading and math concepts.
4. Technology
Websites or apps that provide puzzles, games, and educational content that cover different subjects like reading or math can also be a resource for children. Kids can explore those resources and pick ones that they are interested in. Computers are free to use at most local libraries, which is great for those who don’t have a computer available at home.
Summer Slide is a challenge, but with the right strategies like promoting learning, providing resources, and working together, we can reduce summer slide and help students start their school year strong.
For more tips on how to prevent “Summer Slide,” click here.
To find summer camps and summer learning programs near you, click here.
Resources
Quinn, D. M., & Polikoff, M. (2017). Summer learning loss: What is it, and what can we do about it? Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/
Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (2024). 5 ways to stop the summer slide and help kids keep learning. https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2024/June/5-ways-to-stop-the-summer-slide-and-help-kids-keep-learning/
Scholastic. (2022). How to Prevent Your Kids From Losing What They Learned in School During Summer Vacation. https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/summer-slide.html
NWEA. (2024). Summer learning loss: What we know, what we’re learning.https://www.nwea.org/blog/2024/summer-learning-loss-what-we-know-what-were-learning/