Summer Slide? You may have heard of this term, but what is it? The Summer Slide is the tendency for children to lose some of the academic gains made during the previous school year. Research has shown that children experience significant learning loss over the summer. This past school year has even been more challenging for all; students, parents, and teachers. We have had a few weeks to catch a break from school. But as we approach the halfway point of summer, parents must not forget about the "summer slide" that can happen to students. Summer Slide can cause a decline in reading ability and other academic skills such as math that can occur over the summer months when school is not in session. Not all students are
12 July 2021| PB Parenting |
affected by the summer slide, but a large percentage are. It is the responsibility of parents to encourage reading and academics, even during the summer. Here are some tips to keep the Summer Slide away. Reading: • Have your child read every day for 20 minutes. Children read more when the important adults in their lives are also readers, so pick up a book and read. If your child is an independent reader, you can carve out a time to sit in the same room and read together. This would be an excellent opportunity to relax and read a book together. Maybe make an afternoon snack that can be enjoyed together while reading. Create a daily ritual of reading together. This time allows you to relax and bond with your child. • Stock up on new books! Visit book stores or libraries or even create a book swap with friends to allow them to always have a new book handy to read. It can even be magazines or comic books, anything to get them reading. • Ask questions. Get your child talking about what they are reading. Make sure to ask about the story and characters. Ask your child's opinion of the book, who their favorite character, and would they recommend it to friends? • Start a Book Club with friends. This is an excellent way for pre-teens and teenagers
