A Parent’s Guide to Avoiding the “Summer Slide”

Pop quiz: Which of these three things is not like the other — water slide, park slide, or summer slide? 

If you guessed “summer slide,” you’re correct! 

The term “summer slide,” also known as “summer learning loss,” refers to the phenomenon where a child doesn’t retain all the information learned during the school year. In essence, a child’s retention of skills and knowledge “slides” during the summer months because he or she isn’t actively using those skills or putting that information into use.[1] Summer may be a time of regression for some students, but it can also be an opportunity for kids to catch up in areas like math and reading.[2] These long days provide ample free time for kids to practice their reading and math skills and pick up new ones.

Keep your kids engaged with these simple yet effective activities that turn ordinary summer days into educational adventures!

Summer Slides and Learning by the Poolside

It may sound like a recent phenomenon or a newly minted buzzword, but the “summer slide” has been studied for decades.[1] Research from 39 studies conducted in the 1990s showed that test scores decreased during the summer months, with math suffering more retention loss than reading.[3] 

However, recent data as to the severity of this “slide” is inconclusive. A 2023 report examined the results from three standardized assessments conducted by the NWEA (formerly the Northwest Evaluation Association), the Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies-Kindergarten, and Renaissance Learning. The data showed a wide range of learning loss, from high to moderate rates to basically no learning loss at all.[2] Overall, the learning loss rates don’t replicate across assessments, which could be due to differences in test score measurements used and the varying skills analyzed.[4] 

Nonreplicable data doesn’t rule out the possibility of the “summer slide” and its effects on retention, but it does show that learning loss can be minimal or nonexistent with intervention. Intervention can come in the form of summer learning programs and at-home enrichment activities designed to help kids retain information.[4] This can range from summer reading programs that reinforce reading comprehension to playing board games that help improve math skills.[2] 

Learning can take place wherever your family goes this summer. Relaxing by the poolside? Bring books for your kids to read while they’re drying off from swimming. Vacationing at the beach? Ask them to count as many seashells as they can find, or ask them to identify wildlife that they see, like birds or fish. Having a staycation? Help your kids practice their math skills by baking; they can practice measurements, addition, subtraction, and watch how different ingredients come together to make a delicious treat! When it comes to fun activities for beating the summer slump, the sky is the limit!

Read, Set, Go!

Research suggests that summer reading programs can enhance children’s reading comprehension.[2] Graphic novels, picture books, and chapter books are all fantastic materials that make reading enjoyable while also expanding your children’s vocabulary and imagination. 

Visit your local library and encourage your kids to pick out old favorites and discover new ones. Ask the children’s librarian if there is a reading challenge your children can participate in. Most libraries host summer reading programs complete with special challenges, book logs, and prizes.

You can also join in on the fun with a family reading competition! Set a reading goal for each family member (yourself included) based on age and reading level. (For example, one chapter book for your preteen may equal twenty picture books for your seven-year-old.) Each person keeps track of the number of books they read, and the person who meets his or her goal by the end of summer wins! The prize can be picking the restaurant your family eats at on your next family outing, getting to stay up an hour later on the weekend, or selecting the movie for movie night. Download our free Carole Marsh Book Club Summer Reading Log to help your kids keep track of their books.

Another option is to set a combined goal for your family, with each person contributing to the total number of books your family reads. By making it a group effort, you’re showing your children that reading is essential — and enjoyable — at all ages. When the family’s goal is met, treat everyone to a movie night complete with their favorite snacks and candy, a picnic at the park, or an ice cream bar with all the fixins’. 

Making Math Memories

National assessments report a greater decrease in test scores in math than in reading over the summer, so practicing these skills with your kids is highly beneficial in boosting their retention rate. Worksheets and word problems aren’t the only ways you can do this, though. Make math fun this summer by creating memories in the kitchen by baking delicious desserts!

Baking involves measurements, fractions, conversions, addition, division, and multiplication — “sweet” activities for reinforcing math skills.[5] Ask your kids to double the recipe to practice multiplication or half the recipe to practice division. Click here for beginner-friendly recipes for your kids to try!

For an added challenge, ask your kids to convert the measurements (i.e. tablespoons to teaspoons or pounds into cups). Use this conversion calculator to check their answers. 

Board games are another way to encourage your kids to practice their math skills. Classics like Monopoly are perfect for counting spaces, adding dice, and understanding concepts like addition and subtraction of money. For younger children, Chutes and Ladders is a great resource to help them learn to count and name numbers.[6]

Adventure Awaits!

Enjoy the warm weather and sunshine with your kids this summer by getting outside and exploring parks. Or, if staying indoors where it’s nice and cool sounds better, visit history and science museums. Wherever your adventure takes your family, have fun and keep learning with these activity ideas!

Scavenger Hunts: Visit your local park for a hands-on lesson in environmental science. Use this free Georgia 4-H scavenger hunt checklist to guide your kids in finding different leaves, pinecones, pine needles, and more!

Day Trips: Staycations are great opportunities to explore sites like museums, state parks, and zoos in your own backyard. Check your public library for free or discounted passes to nearby attractions. Additionally, many of these attractions offer special kids’ programs and day camps during the summer.

Virtual Tours: You and your family can tour national and international museums and historical landmarks from the comfort of your couch! As you click through these virtual tours, ask your kids to identify the artifacts they recognize from their social studies lessons. Follow up with questions about the people who lived in these places: How did they stay cool in the summertime without air conditioning? What kinds of summer activities do you think they enjoyed? By seeing the places they learned about in their history textbooks, kids form real-life connections.

American History Landmarks:

• George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, VA)

• Fort Sumter (Charleston, SC | Battle of Fort Sumter, Civil War)

• Yorktown Battlefield (Yorktown, VA | Battle of Yorktown, Revolutionary War)

• The Alamo Church (San Antonio, TX | Battle of the Alamo, Texas Revolution) 

• Gettysburg National Military Park (Gettysburg, PA | Battle of Gettysburg, Civil War) 

World History/Art Museums: 

• The Louvre (Paris, France)

• The British Museum (London, England) 

• The National Gallery (London, England)

We hope you and your kids have a great summer full of learning adventures! For more educational activities, follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter. 

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Sources:

[1] Kuhfeld, Megan and Karyn Lewis. “Is summer learning loss real, and does it widen test score gaps by family income?” Brookings, 30 January 2023, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-summer-learning-loss-real-and-does-it-widen-test-score-gaps-by-family-income/. Accessed 20 May 2025. 

[2] Pappas, Stephanie. “School’s Out. Should You Worry about the ‘Summer Slide’?” Scientific American, 10 July 2023, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/schools-out-should-you-worry-about-the-summer-slide/. Accessed 27 May 2025. 

[3] Cooper, H., Nye, B., Charlton, K., Lindsay, J., & Greathouse, S. “The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review.” Review of Educational Research, 66(3), 227-268. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543066003227 (Original work published 1996). Accessed 27 May 2025.

[4] Workman, Joseph, Paul T. von Hippel, and Joseph Merry. “Findings on Summer Learning Loss Often Fail to Replicate, Even in Recent Data.” Sociological Science, 10.15195/v10.a8, 30 March 2023, https://sociologicalscience.com/articles-v10-8-251/. Accessed 27 May 2025. 

[5] “Teach Math & Science Through Baking.” Domino, https://www.dominosugar.com/baking-tips-how-tos/teach-math-science-through-baking. Accessed 28 May 2025. 

[6] Pearson, Kelli. “What’s the Best Math Board Game for Your Child’s Grade?” Artful Math, https://artfulmath.com/best-math-board-game/. Accessed 29 May 2025.