8 Fun Ways to Avoid Summer Slide

Each summer seems to slip by faster and faster than the one before. Without the daily bus schedule, lunch making and nightly homework, it's amazing how quickly two months can fly by as you're busy camping, going for walks, exploring the city and enjoying the summer sun while it lasts. 

One thing you have to watch out for during these glorious summer months between school years is the summer slide. If you're already a parent of school-age children, you've probably heard this term tossed around.

Summer slide refers to children regressing or 'sliding back' in their learnings while they're away from school, which lowers their academic proficiency and can hinder them when they go back in the fall. Researchers found that students' suffered a loss in achievement scores equivalent to one month of learning over the summer and declines were sharpest for math and reading.

Like anything, our brains need to be exercised regularly to function at their best. If we don't use it, we lose it — this same principle that we apply to physical exercise, learning a new language and other skills also applies to our children's learning ability. 

The good news is, there are easy ways to combat summer slide by simply encouraging your child to keep using their skills, even when they're not at school. Reading books is a simple, fun activity that people enjoy at all ages, and it helps children retain what they've learned. Research shows that a child who reads one minute a day outside of school will learn 8,000 words by the end of Grade 6 whereas a student who reads 20 minutes a day will learn 1,800,000 words in the same time frame. That’s huge! 

Here is how we recommend you avoid academic loss throughout the summer:

Read at Home to Avoid Summer Slide

Set Aside 20 Minutes/Day

By reading each day, your child's brain will be at work while engaged in a fun story. It can be a chapter book, comic or even a much-loved picture book. Try this as a good mid-afternoon quiet time activity if your child doesn't want to nap. If reading isn’t your child’s top priority, consider a reading incentive to encourage them.

Make a Reading Nook

Creating a cozy space for you and/or your child to cuddle up and read can make a huge difference. Make a space in your home that your child wants to hang out in, perhaps with some cushions, blankets, good light and snacks.

Visit The Library

If you want your child excited to read, they need something exciting to read about! Regular visits to the library will encourage your child to pick out books they're interested in, and to finish their current finds so they can browse for new ones next visit. Let your child choose their own books and don't worry if they pick something too easy or that they've read before. As their skills improve, they will choose more demanding stories. Some children prefer non-fiction and, of course, that's fine too.

Find The 'Just Right' Books

Your child can pick their own books, but help them find the 'just right' books. These are books your child is interested in, but are not beyond their reading level. Use the five-finger test to determine if it's too difficult: Open the book and have your child start reading. Hold up a finger for each word he/she doesn’t know. If you have 4-5 fingers up, the text may be too difficult for them to read independently. But, feel free to still check out or purchase the book — it may be something you read together. 

Listen To Audiobooks

Sometimes sitting quietly and reading simply doesn't happen — that's ok! Audiobooks are a great way to get lost in stories while your hands and feet are busy, or you're simply tired and want to relax. Concentrating and listening are important skills to nurture too. Consider an audiobook when you're doing chores, going for walks or travelling in the car. You could also pack an activity book for your kids on those long trips.

Read Aloud

No matter how old your child is, keep reading aloud to them. There are countless benefits of reading aloud to your children, even after they can read themselves. If your child can not yet read fluently, reading independently can be hard work so they’ll enjoy sharing a book with you.

Ask Questions

Talk to your child about the book they’re reading, like what happens in the story and who their favourite character is. They might like to draw a picture based on the story or even write a short review.

Read Outdoors

Go on nature expeditions, scavenger hunts, walks, hikes and more! If you go to the zoo or a museum, make a checklist of things for your kids to find or get them to read each plaque aloud. This keeps them reading and writing, but makes it more fun.

And parents, please don't forget: 

Use whatever few quiet minutes you can get to read your own book or magazine, too. Seeing you enjoy reading will help your child realize that it's not just something to be done in school.