Ways to Lessen the "Summer Slide"

Hi! I’m in the middle of the end of the school year activities for my three kids – my 4-year-old, A (I’m using first initials for my kids’ names going forward), graduated preschool this past week and will be heading to a new school for TK (Transitional Kindergarten) in the fall, and this coming week C graduates second grade and N graduates fourth grade.  It’s been very busy for us all! I’m sure you’re also feeling the intensity of all the spirit weeks, end of year performances, classroom parties, teacher thank yous, end of year tests, saying goodbye to beloved teachers, etc. too!  Hope you’re doing well and staying hydrated as you power through these often very emotional and bittersweet milestones🥹

As we wrap up the year and head into over 10 weeks of no school, I can’t help but think that 10 weeks away formal learning may cause my kids to lose some of the hard-earned skills and information they’ve acquired this year. I love that during the summer my kids’ days will be filled with free time to explore nature, play with family and friends, and go to some camps where they will build life skills. They’ll be learning new things in ways that classrooms cannot teach them and I can’t wait for them to have those experiences. At the same time, I think about how hard my kids have worked all year to learn new subjects and tackle academic challenges, to sit calmly and follow instructions well, and to build their fine motor skills so they can easily write assignments in and out of the classroom. When summer comes I always think about how 10 weeks away will undo so much of the time and effort they put into all aspects of their schooling which could make for a difficult transition into the new grade level in the fall. After 10 years as a mom I can honestly say that the “Summer Slide” is real and something I try to find ways to lessen as I head into summer.

The quick definition of the ”Summer Slide” is that that over the long summer break kids lose a percentage of what they learned during the school year because they aren’t practicing their new skills and keeping it fresh in their brains, which then makes starting the new school year tough. This is a well-studied and proven phenomenon, but don’t worry, there are many ways to help lessen this slide!

After much trial and error through different summers I’ve realized that summer is about strengthening the classroom skills they’ve learned during the year, and not about teaching new things to my kids. One major area I’ve noticed fall the most over summer is fine motor skills, which are extremely important in the preschool and elementary years. Kids work hard to build up their handwriting muscles during the school year so keeping that strength up is important for an easier transition back to the classroom where they’re expected to handwrite their assignments quickly!

I’ve thought about what has helped me and my kids each summer with different areas of keeping up their school skills and I’ve compiled those resources and ideas below to help you and your kids lessen the “Summer Slide”.  I’ve also realized being consistent with your plans is key to success, and that the quote “begin as you mean to go on” applies to summer learning – take a break for a week or so after school but then get started on your “Anti-Summer Slide Plan” so that the kids get used to it and expect it – it can be tough to add in a new routine partway through your summer when they’re in a different rhythm!

My goal with my family is to make keeping school skills strong a fun thing to do over the summer by blending the below ideas as opposed to only doing workbooks everyday (though workbooks are helpful if targeted and if your kid will do them – one of mine refuses to do them so I have to find other options). I do believe that kids need a break from formal studying but doing some of these activities consistently will be helpful to them in the fall because their skills will be fresh!

ACADEMIC SKILLS

The number one recommendation from all teachers is to have kids read for at least 20 minutes a day during summer. I’ve found that choosing a big special book together at the start of the summer and then you read one page and they read one page is great for bonding and learning (we’ve done Harry Potter and Alice In Wonderland) – but I alternate this with them reading alone or out loud to me from books at their level.

Local Library

Libraries usually offer a reading competition over the summer to inspire kids to read – call your library and sign up for their program – it often ends with a fun party and prizes!

Tutoring

In-person tutors can be found through your school or through Googling local tutors

Virtual tutors are a great option during summer because you can be consistent even if you’re traveling

• EndrichedNYC offers personal learning plans for private tutoring from preschool age on up and has a specialized “kindergarten readiness curriculum”
• Outschool offers so many options - small group learning in specific subjects or grade levels, private tutoring - it takes a minute to navigate their site but it’s worth it
• Curious Cardinals pairs kids with a college-aged “peer” tutor/mentor to work on specific subjects and do passion project deep dives on topics together

Apps

You can keep using the apps your kids use in the classroom – some may make you sign up for a personal account since school is not in session – or try new apps. My kids’ favorite educational apps are:

• Epic
• IXL
• Reflex Math
• Synthesis

FINE MOTOR SKILLS

These resources/ideas can help keep your kids’ fine motor skills strong during the summer so they can be ready to write in the fall:

Preschool to Second Grade

• Playdoh and/or sensory kits from Young Wild & Friedman - you can buy one big one at the start of summer and then add small containers to keep it novel/engaging as summer goes on
• Choose two days a week to write a letter/draw and color in a picture to a family member or school friend
• Fill out a journal – can be daily or weekly – my kids have liked Wee Society’s Me Journal or Lakeshore Learning’s Journal
• Coloring pages – choose a variety of marker/colored pencil/pen styles to keep coloring engaging and fun while using them on coloring books, plain paper, and Melissa & Doug offers free printables
• Large coloring page or a huge piece of plain white paper either taped to the floor with painters tape or across the kitchen table is fun to work on a little at a time or with siblings and friends
• Outschool virtual tutoring offers drawing classes that can be fun for kids with themes like how to draw Pokemon or how to draw Squishmallows, etc.
• If your child is willing to do workbooks, Learning Without Tears has proven to be the best way for my kids to learn to write and to keep practicing during the summer - choose whichever level is appropriate for their age or ask their teacher
• Baking together

Second Grade to Fifth Grade

• Fill out a journal – can be daily or weekly – let your kids choose a fun journal and pen that they will enjoy using
• Play Mad Libs together and take turns with who is writing the answers
• Something fun I’ve seen families do is buy a huge Lego set that the family works on together over the summer
• Create their own board game and rules, then teach it to the family and play together
• Create their own comic book/graphic novel
• Big puzzles with small pieces for the whole family
• Cooking together or they cook something for the family
• Typing tutor apps will help get older kids ready for typing – Dance Mat Typing, Typing Land

EDUTAINMENT

Edutainment means “educational entertainment” which is a great way to keep kids learning instead of only doing academic drills!

Board Games

• Board games are a great way to keep up math, reasoning, teamwork, patience, and sportsmanship skills: Monopoly, Sorry, Risk, The Game of Life, Connect Four, Zingo (for younger kids), card games are all fun to play as a family or with friends

Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are a great way to keep kids entertained while learning problem solving skills – you can subscribe so they deliver automatically or you can order a few now to store them but then bring them out as needed throughout the summer. My kids love the boxes from:

• Kiwi Crate (they have a summer adventure series where you choose a set for your kid’s age and it will take them through many activities throughout the summer)
• I’m The Chef Too
• Crunch Labs

Magazines

Magazines are a fun treat that arrives in the mail and filled with bitesize articles to keep up with reading and with learning – my kids like:

• National Geographic Kids (my kids started liking this in Kindergarten)
• The Week Jr. (my kids started liking this in second grade)

Please note, the above Anti-Summer Slide ideas are options that my kids and I love and that have worked for us, but if your child needs specific summer academic help then please make a plan with your child’s school/pediatrician.

I hope these ideas help you lessen the “Summer Slide” for your kids and that they enjoy the activities!

xo, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend

PS – If you’re looking for last minute in-person summer camps I posted ideas on Instagram this week (@type__a__mom) and on my site so check them out!