Avoid the Summer Slide: 7 Ways to Keep Your Kids Engaged Over the Summer

Summer vacation lasts roughly ten weeks. During that time, many kids experience a skill regression called the “summer slide.” Essential subjects like math and science are often the first to be forgotten, but students can also forget other skills, like English, due to a lack of repetition. While summer vacation is a necessary reset, it doesn't mean learning must end abruptly. We speak to two education experts to see how to stop the summer slide and have your kids ready to jump back into school come September.

Be Sneaky and Make Learning Fun

Michelle Stantial, special education teacher for the Houston Independent School District and owner of Woodland Havens Counseling, suggests unconventional but efficient methods. “After over 20 years working in special education with Houston ISD — and as a mother myself — I’ve seen firsthand how quickly academic skills can slip over the summer if they aren’t gently nurtured. But I’ve also seen how easy it is to turn everyday moments into rich learning opportunities,” she says.

Stantial explains that summer can be the perfect time to deepen learning through creativity, connection, and play.

Summer learning shouldn't feel like your kids are sitting in a classroom. You don't need homework to refresh skills if you have a little ingenuity and creative thinking.

“It can happen around the kitchen table, during a walk, or in the living room with a board game and a pizza box between you. What matters most is setting aside time and creating space where learning and bonding happen side by side,” says Stantial.

Casually encouraging learning is a natural way of approaching any school subject, and Stantial recommends engaging in one or two small activities a week. Being consistent and making sure each activity is joyful are good first steps. Additionally, Stantial recommends letting your kids have some control over the activity. “A little choice goes a long way in making learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure,” she says.

Turn Summer Reading Into an Experience

Reading requires work like any other skill. Not every child is an avid reader, which is why it's so important to incorporate this into summer learning. Stantial recommends reading together, as it encourages bonding time and takes the stress off your child reading alone.

“Choose a chapter book that you both can enjoy — adventure stories, mysteries, or books with strong characters are great choices. Set aside 20–30 minutes a few evenings a week to read aloud together. Then, talk about the characters and what might happen next,” she says.

This encourages reading comprehension while playing on your child's (often vivid) imagination. Talking about the book following the reading also promotes critical thinking, a necessary skill for any grade. “Growing up, I remember my mother and I taking turns reading all of the Anne of Green Gables series,” Stantial says, reflecting on her summer experience as a kid.

For younger children, Stantial suggests pairing reading with a fun activity. Drawing their favorite character or scene is a great way to get them excited about reading. Then, have them write a sentence about what they've drawn. After their masterpiece is finished, help them send it to someone of their choosing – a friend, grandparent, or other family member.

Your child will be excited about sharing their work with someone, while also feeling proud of what they've accomplished reading-wise. “When we wrote letters to relatives, I told my son it was like sending ‘old-fashioned texts' — only with stamps, paper, and a mysterious thing called cursive,” Stantial says.

Tackling Math on Game Night

Math is by far one of the most challenging subjects. Finding ways to keep math skills fresh over the summer can be difficult. It's not as much fun as reading or learning new science facts, but Stantial shares some personal insight that might help.

“For me, family game night was for pizza, laughter, and learning. A trifecta! When my son was younger, we had a weekly family board game night with pizza,” she says.

“I made it a habit to sneak in games that supported learning, like Count Your Chickens, Allowance, and Sum Swamp. These games reinforced early math skills, money concepts, and even turn-taking and strategy — all under the guise of fun.”

Consider using a board game that incorporates math skills for kids who are not keen on learning-focused games. Monopoly, Sorry, and Chutes and Ladders are just a few suggestions. Any game that requires counting, adding, and subtracting sums can help retain math skills.

Like Stantial's son, your kids might not be fooled, but they will undoubtedly have fun. “I thought of it as ‘sneaky learning,' like hiding spinach in brownies,” she says. “He wasn’t fooled, but he played anyway, especially if there was pizza involved!”

Stantial offers a creative alternative for an easier, budget-friendly way to keep math skills alive. “Sidewalk chalk is another open-ended tool. Try writing math problems outside, having a word scavenger hunt, or even playing hopscotch with sight words or number patterns.”

Even with no budget, math learning can be done in a way that makes sense. Stantial explains that anything can turn into a math problem, like grocery shopping, cooking, and gardening. “Even setting the table can be a math conversation: If we have three guests coming and we’re five already, how many plates do we need?” Stantial says.

Learning Happens Outside the Classroom

We also speak with Dr. Johnna Weller, Chief Academic Officer at the Learning Care Group, who shared more out-of-the-box tips for summer learning. Not every classroom needs to look like the inside of a child's home, and Weller explains why portable learning is so powerful.

“You don’t need pricey workbooks or elaborate STEM kits. A stick in the sand becomes a writing tool, a stroll through the neighborhood morphs into an impromptu scavenger hunt, a thank-you card to Grandma doubles as a literacy and kindness lesson,” she says.

“The key is to weave academic skills into real-world contexts so children see — and feel — the relevance.” Engaging kids outside their typical environment is also a great way to make memories. Adventures in your neighborhood or even your own backyard build bonds while widening the learning scope.

Become a Backyard Detective

Where there's nature, there's potential for a scientific adventure. Something as simple as watching an ant colony build a nest becomes a fun research project. Watching the sky quickly becomes an experience in naming cloud types. The best part? It also gets kids out of the house and active!

Weller suggests planning activities around certain times of the day, as well. “Plant a mini-garden, track the phases of the moon, or keep a ‘critter journal' of insects found on evening walks.” She recommends using CitizenScience, a platform that allows kids to upload observations used by real scientists.

When using digital tools, Weller also suggests incorporating a time limit. “Online learning platforms and educational apps can reinforce skills, but set clear boundaries: short, purposeful sessions balanced with unplugged activities. I encourage families to follow a '20-minute tech, 20-minute active' rhythm so screen time fuels, rather than replaces, hands-on discovery,” she says.

Don't Forget About Non-Texbook Learning

The school curriculum teaches math, science, English, and history, but social skills are a crucial byproduct. Weller emphasizes the importance of maintaining and encouraging social skills over the summer. “Academic loss isn’t the only risk,” she says. “Children also need practice with cooperation, turn-taking, and conflict resolution. Group play — whether a neighborhood kickball game or a structured summer program — helps those softer skills become automatic.”

Remembering time for play and group activities should also be a crucial part of avoiding the summer slide. If the budget is there, enrolling kids in day programs or library groups is another great way to build on social and emotional skills.

Infuse the Summer with Learning and Love

Many parents are understandably concerned about summer vacation, but it's important to remember that this is your child's break, too. Trusting in teachers to provide adequate refreshers is half the battle. “While you’re bonding and supporting your child’s growth in fun and intentional ways, we — the teachers — will be refreshing, recharging, and getting ready to welcome your children back with open arms and full hearts when the school doors open again in the fall,” Stantial reassures parents.

The other half of the battle is making sure your child is having fun with learning, without being weighed down by high standards. “Above all, keep it light and keep it loving. While it’s tempting to print out worksheets to keep skills fresh, I encourage families to explore more playful and meaningful alternatives,” says Stantial.

She reminds us that real-world activities are an equally important learning tool. Finding value in them — and how they bring families together — is a good recipe to avoid the summer slide. “When you carve out that special time — whether to read, bake, play, or draw — you’re not just supporting your child’s academic growth. You’re building memories and affirming that learning is a lifelong, joyful process,” she says.

“So this summer, be intentional. Make space for connection and curiosity. And remember: a little fun goes a long way.”

The image featured at the top of this post is ©LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com.