As the old saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Every year, the “summer slide,” “brain drain,” or “summer learning loss” phenomenon happens because kids stop actively learning for months at a time.
The good news is you can keep the momentum going in your household with innovative activities that are learning disguised as fun.
Sunday: Meal prep together
Meal prepping is a great way to take the “there’s nothing to eat in here” statement out of the equation, while learning at the same time. Whether it’s preparing full meals for the week or simply slicing fruit, veggies, and stocking up on snacks, giving your kids the power to choose their food for the week is a tool to promote independence, responsibility, and thinking ahead.
Monday: Financial literacy lesson
It’s never too early to learn the value of a dollar! There are so many fun ways to practice financial literacy. Maybe you provide your child with $10 and see how far they can make it go at the grocery store. Perhaps you help them set up a lemonade stand with a lesson on profit margins. Or maybe it’s just a good ol’ fashioned game of Monopoly with a little added focus on what actually makes a good investment!
Tuesday: Practice a new language
It’s never too late to learn a new language, especially with so many resources out there. From apps to classes to YouTube, languages from all over the world are at your child's fingertips. Studies show that kids who are bilingual have better cognitive flexibility, self-control, problem-solving skills, memory, concentration, and more. Plus, being bilingual is a huge asset to include on a resume!
Wednesday: Don’t just play games—make them!
Whether it’s crafting a new board game or diving into game dev, summer is an awesome opportunity for kids to become the brains behind the game. From 3D Game Design with Fortnite to Coding Games: JavaScript and P5 to Roblox Game Design: Coding and Monetization and more, kids can make any world come to life.
Thursday: Plan the weekend
Even during summer, there’s something special about the weekends. Practice planning skills and autonomy by looking ahead at the weekend. Hang out with friends for a pool day? Spend time in nature with a hike? Explore a nearby town? Opportunities are endless.
Friday: Cooking is chemistry
Friday is the perfect night for pizza and a movie, but why not practice some life skills in the process? Instead of ordering pizza, teach kids how to make a new component each week. Show them how yeast, water, and flour rise into dough, how to chop veggies, cook protein, or even make pizza sauce! There’s so much learning to be had in the kitchen.
Saturday: Wherever the road takes you
Whether it’s literally taking a spontaneous road trip or more figuratively taking the day as it comes, leave Saturday open. Lessons from the week might inspire kids to take on a Saturday project, or they might want to rest for the day—and both are great options!
Parents who understand what summer slide is and address it early on have found that their kids perform better in the long run—developing outstanding learning habits that carry through high school and on to college. This summer, make a commitment to keep kids learning, even if it’s just little things each day.
TL;DR
- Combat the summer slide with daily innovative activities that are learning disguised as fun!
- Sunday: Meal prep together
- Monday: Financial literacy lesson
- Tuesday: Practice a new language
- Wednesday: Don’t just play games—make them!
- Thursday: Plan the weekend
- Friday: Cooking is chemistry
- Saturday: Wherever the road takes you