Kids Lose More School Skills Over Summer Than You’d Think

Summer should feel like freedom—no alarms, no homework, and no packed schedules. Kids really need that break. But education experts say that taking a complete break from learning can have a downside, often called the summer slide.

Why Education Experts Say Summer Break Can Set Kids Back

The summer slide refers to kids falling behind in reading and math if they go months without practice. Dr. Curby Alexander, an associate professor at Texas Christian University and former fourth-grade teacher, says students can lose up to 28% of their reading gains and 34% of their math gains over one summer. That’s a big loss.

The good news is you don’t have to make summer feel like school to help kids keep learning. Simple, relaxed routines in daily life can make a big difference.

Simple Daily Habits That Keep Kids Sharp All Summer Long

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Reading every day is the easiest place to start. Even reading a chapter or two of a book they like makes a difference. Even better, the Wenatchee Valley's Chelan-Douglas Regional Library system has a summer reading program where kids can set goals and earn small rewards along the way.

Playing games together as a family helps kids practice counting, strategy, and reading in a way that feels fun instead of like work. Board games, card games, and puzzles all help.

Open-ended conversations can turn everyday errands into chances to learn. You could ask your kids to guess the grocery total, explain how they’d solve a problem, or talk about something new they saw outside. This builds critical thinking without feeling like a lesson.

Unstructured play is important too, and experts really stress this. Time spent wandering, imagining, and moving freely is not wasted. It helps kids build creativity, social skills, and emotional strength.

From the Library to the Backyard: How Wenatchee Valley Families Can Help

Sharing chores at home, like watering plants, setting the table, or folding laundry, helps kids feel accomplished and learn to follow through. These skills carry over into the classroom.

Going regularly to a park, a hike up to Saddle Rock, or the library costs little or nothing and keeps kids curious all summer.

The goal isn’t to eliminate downtime. It’s to make sure summer helps kids grow instead of letting them fall behind.