The Summer Slide and How To Prevent It

It’s finally summer in Idaho Falls and it’s time to talk about the Summer Slide that all teachers are dreading. Although summer is a treasured time for kids—getting to play all day, not having to wake up early, and having fewer responsibilities—it is a time where a scary amount of learning is lost.

The Summer Slide essentially came out in 1996 when studies showed children were losing skills that were taught in school during summer break. It is shown that the children most susceptible to the Summer Slide are kiddos in kindergarten through second grade because they are at a vital stage of their development. Studies showed that children lost, on average, 20% of their learning in reading and 27% of learning in math. Teachers often have to spend weeks in the fall re-teaching and reviewing concepts learned the previous year.

So how do we put an end to this loss of learning? Here are some easy, affordable, and fun tips on how to beat the Summer Slide!

Take Advantage of Our Public Library

Our Idaho Falls Public Library is the place to be during the summer! Our library has the coolest Summer Reading challenges for children, teens, and even adults! It’s free to sign up and all you have to do is track your child’s reading on an app called Beanstalk. Time logged can be the time that they are reading themselves, listening to an audiobook, or reading aloud with you. With every “x” amount of days your child read, you get to pick up some fun prizes! Last summer, my kids got fun small toys, FREE books, and tickets/discounts to restaurants and activities around town. Taking advantage of the Summer Reading Challenge can be a great incentive to get you and your children reading.

Play – In A Smart Way

Summer doesn’t have to be filled with a strict curriculum or rigid worksheets to beat the Summer Slide. Have fun but add an educational twist! Doing a lemonade/cookie stand this week? Have the kids help buy the ingredients and add the total at the store (math). Let them measure the ingredients and mix the cookie batter (motor skills and science). There are plenty of educational toys that will keep their minds moving–think puzzles, board games, etc. Our favorite this summer has been a program called AdaptedMind. Adapted Mind is a great interactive and educational computer program that covers everything from Math and Reading to even Social Studies. This program does have a monthly cost but it’s been so worth it! My son looks forward to playing every day and it’s been such a confidence builder too. If you’d like to try it out, there is a free trial!

Get Out and Explore

There is a saying that goes along the lines of, “a kid learns more going with you to the Post Office than they can a whole day in school.” Not totally wrong, haha! You can turn an everyday outing into a time of learning and connection. We love visiting the Idaho Falls Zoo and reading the signs together and watching the animals. Here are two things we like to do:

1. Bring a notebook and pencils with you, and have the kids draw or write the animals’ names.
2. Print out photos of the animals and have the kid do a scavenger hunt of the animals they find.

Just one visit to a historical building or National Park gets their minds working and their curiosity flowing. These types of outings will often ignite future investigations and excitement for learning.

Let Them Read What They Want

Some parents aren’t too keen on the whole comic book or graphic novel thing but hear me out! Reading is reading—even if it’s Captain Underpants. Summer is a time where a lot of learning is lost so if your child wants to read something silly, let them go for it! Children are more likely to enjoy reading when they are able to choose what they want. (Of course, make sure the book is suitable for their age and maturity level.) But think about it, as an adult, would you have more fun sitting at the lake with a People Magazine or a textbook from college? I know it can be hard to loosen the reigns (I’ve been there) but trust me on this one: let them pick out a book and watch how they dive in. It’s the best thing to see.

Check Out Activities Around Town

Idaho Falls has so many awesome things happening in the Summer that it’s hard to narrow down to a few. I know if you have more than one child all the activities can be overwhelming. Have a child that loves to craft? Artitorium has summer programs you can check out HERE. Have a child that loves movies? Ride bikes as a family down to one of our Movie In The Park nights! Movies lead to a lot of discussions and you may even encourage your child to read the book after they see the movie. You can also check out local Summer camps or Vacation Bible Schools, whatever floats your boat. Just get out there and have fun!

Last Tip: Don’t get too overwhelmed with the Summer Slide. An outing here, a learning activity there, and reading every day for at least 20 minutes is FANTASTIC. Overall, the most important thing I want you to take away is that learning can be fun in the Summer with your involvement and encouragement. Spending time together as a family and using the break as an opportunity to connect with your children is the best learning tool. Have fun and make learning exciting!