–By Ruby Sodhi, Ph.D.
Summer break is a long-awaited season. Children eagerly anticipate the freedom of sunny days, family vacations, sleepovers, camps, and a break from school routines. Parents, meanwhile, often find themselves balancing excitement with a familiar question: How can I make this summer both enjoyable and meaningful for my child?
At the beginning of summer, two and a half months can seem endless. Yet before we know it, July has come and gone, school supplies begin appearing in stores, and the countdown to the first day of school starts all over again.
What happens between the last day of one school year and the first day of the next is more important than many people realize. Summer provides children with valuable opportunities to rest, explore, and grow. However, without some continued engagement in reading, math, and problem-solving, students can experience what educators call the summer slide.
What Is the Summer Slide?
The summer slide refers to the loss of academic skills and knowledge that can occur during an extended break from school. Research shows that some students, particularly younger learners and those already struggling with reading or math, may return to school having forgotten skills they worked hard to develop during the year.
Teachers often notice these gaps within the first few weeks of school. Time that could be spent building new skills is instead spent reviewing and rebuilding previous learning. While most students eventually regain lost ground, preventing the slide is much easier than recovering from it.
The Good News: Prevention Is Simple
Avoiding the summer slide does not require workbooks, tutoring sessions, or hours of
academic practice each day. In fact, small, consistent learning opportunities can make a
significant difference.
One of the most powerful tools is reading.
Summer reading books selected by teachers are often engaging, age-appropriate, and
designed to be enjoyed in short bursts. Just 15–20 minutes of reading a day helps maintain vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and critical thinking skills. Reading also strengthens imagination, curiosity, empathy, and creativity in ways few other activities can.
Easy Ways to Keep Learning Alive
Here are a few simple ways to support learning throughout the summer:
Read Every Day
Set aside 15–20 minutes for independent reading, family reading time, or listening to audiobooks together.
Practice Math Naturally
Involve children in everyday math:
● Estimate the cost of groceries or restaurant meals.
● Calculate discounts while shopping.
● Measure ingredients while cooking.
● Compare prices and make budgeting decisions.
Build Executive Functioning Skills
Executive functioning skills help children plan, organize, prioritize, and manage tasks.
Summer provides countless opportunities to practice them.
For example:
● Have your child pack their own travel bag using a checklist.
● Ask them to plan the items needed for a day trip.
● Encourage them to create a schedule for completing chores or activities.
● Give them responsibility for managing a small budget during an outing.
These real-life experiences help children develop independence, problem-solving skills,
and confidence.
Small Steps Lead to Big Results
The summer slide does not affect every student equally, but all children benefit from
continued opportunities to read, think, and solve problems. Summer should absolutely be a time for fun, exploration, and family memories. Learning does not have to compete with those experiences—it can be woven naturally into them.
As parents, don’t feel guilty about encouraging your child to read, practice math, or take on new responsibilities during the summer months. A few minutes each day can make a
meaningful difference.
By making room for reading, math, and executive functioning skills this summer, you can help your child return to school confident, prepared, and ready for a strong start to the new school year.
Ruby's Musings 