Preventing the Summer Slide

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - April 25th, 2015

The summer slide is a real problem, with kids across the country losing ground when they’re not in school day in and day out. It’s no secret by now that, without the structure and content of going to school every day, kids lose nearly 3 months of progress that they made in the previous school year. This means that your child starts the new school year both behind and with a lack of confidence – and it will take a long time for them to get back in the groove.

The good news is that the summer slide is completely preventable. All it takes is working with your child for 15-20 minutes per day in the subjects they face every day in school: reading, math, writing, social studies, science, etc. Be sure to keep things light and fun for your child, since summer is supposed to be a fun time that gets them away from the daily grind of school. You can play games with your child that reinforce the things they’ve learned in school, or even make flash cards that incorporate school subjects. You can throw in a few traditional materials like workbooks and worksheets, but try to mix it up so your child doesn’t feel like it’s just another school day. This is especially important since the summer gives your child a much-needed break from the “grind” of the school year.

By working with your child to prevent the summer slide, you’re not only putting them in a good position; you’re giving them a built-in advantage against their peers. The effects of the summer slide don’t discriminate, so your child’s classmates will be facing the same challenges that they are. If your child works just 15-20 minutes per day on the subjects they’ll be seeing again in the fall, they’ll be ahead of the curve – and ahead of their classmates.