How bad is Summer Slide?

Should you worry and helpful tips for summer reading

What is Summer Slide?

Every June millions of kids trade their backpacks for the lazy (or active) days of summer. It’s a hugely exciting time for kids, and in my memory a pretty magical thing to feel the freedom and openness of your own days. I say this cause I am a huge fan of summer, however, it can have its academic drawbacks.

Summer slide describes the amount of learning lost over the summer. This quote from Scholastic recalls a study that breaks down just how much learning is lost, and um, it’s actually a lot.

A more recent study of children in 3rd to 5th grades also showed that students lost, on average, about 20 percent of their school-year gains in reading and 27 percent of their school-year gains in math during summer break.

20-27% learning loss in reading and math is pretty jaw dropping. But more than this number is the snowball effect is has over the years. So if you have a kid who is already a bit behind, summer slide makes it harder for them to catch up. It’s no surprise that summer learning loss affects low income families the most.

(Quick note: For every paid subscription I donate a year of For the Love of Words to a low income reader. If you are a paid subscriber, thank you deeply for your support.)

One thing is for sure- kids are not reading enough during the summer. Luckily summer slide is easy to avoid and I have some helpful tips and resources to make reading fun and accessible all summer long.

Photo by Skylar Zilka on Unsplash

How can I prevent Summer Slide?

1. Let kids read what they want. Summer is about getting to do what you want more than the rest of the year. Let them read comics, graphic novels, or even books below reading level. Lean into the pleasure of reading more than the academics. The more they enjoy reading the more they will read.

2. Have options: Simply having books around will stimulate more reading. Need some recommendations, here is a fabulous list I LOVE.

3. Make it a habit: Weekly trips to the library. Create a reading area. Replace 30 minutes of screentime with reading time. Many libraries have summer reading challenges, see if your local branch offers any.

4. Make it social: Start a family book club, or read aloud, yes even to older kids reading together has huge intellectual and emotional benefits. Have a book swap with neighbors and friends. Talk about what you are reading with them, and ask questions. Looking for a book club for this summer, check out this option.

5. Have a goal or at least an intention: This isn’t the best motivator for every kid, but starting with a goal can keep you on track. These can be simple, read every day, read more overall, finish a series. Let your kid lead and ask them what they would like to do so they can take charge in their own goals and accomplishments.

6. Use your imagination: Games are a great way to build reading skills over the summer. Telling stories is one easy way. If you need help getting started or game-ifying these build a story cards are super fun!

Photo by Guzel Maksutova on Unsplash

I hope this has been helpful. Do you have any other tips or summer reading ideas for your home? Share them in the comments. And don’t forget to subscribe for reading resources all summer.