Preventing “brain drain” or “summer slide” during the summer holidays

Mass. (WWLP) – As students officially finish the school year and prepare for the three-month summer break, some caregivers are worried about the brain drain. 22News is working for you to show you how to have fun with your kids this summer without sacrificing learning.

The “brain drain” or “summer decline” has been studied for decades, finding that children’s learning performance declines during the months they are out of school. When children are not actively learning, they are at risk of losing some of what they learned during the school year.

So how can parents overcome learning delays? They can start reading together with their children.
Just 15 minutes of reading together will introduce them to new vocabulary and improve their reading comprehension.

Next, parents should make learning fun. Children can learn a lot from everyday activities without having to be in the classroom. Continuing learning during the summer doesn’t mean immersing yourself in books and worksheets. Field trips and other interactive activities are a great way to encourage learning.

Whether it’s helping out in the kitchen and trying out new recipes, or volunteering or participating in local summer programs, an extended break from learning can impact student performance and retention in the next school year, so creating the right balance of routine and consistency will set your children up for success.