By the end of the school year, most students (and parents, too) are looking forward to a break. School year routines fade away and make room for long sunny days, later bedtimes, and well-deserved downtime.
However, while looking forward to summer break, many parents and students don’t realize that between 62% and 78% of students can lose academic ground over the summer. That’s not just a stat—it’s real loss of learning that occurs every fall when students return to school, forgetting their times tables or struggling to get back into reading routines.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that summer learning loss is entirely preventable.
Understanding Summer Learning Loss
Summer learning loss happens when kids take a full academic break for two (or more) months. Without practice or reinforcement, skills in core areas such as math, reading, and writing start to fade. Think of it like a muscle: it weakens if you don’t use it.
This doesn’t mean kids need a full school schedule during summer. But a little bit of learning—just a few hours a week—can go a long way toward maintaining key learning skills.
Summer Learning Can Be Fun!
While the words “summer” and “learning” don’t usually go together in a kid’s mind, they should! The trick is to make summer learning fun, interactive, and low-pressure.
Think math games, creative writing challenges, reading books that kids actually want to read, and hands-on science experiments that feel more like play than school. The goal isn’t to overwhelm students—it’s to help them stay engaged and confident.
The best summer learning programs do exactly that: they combine fun with purpose, helping kids maintain momentum without burning out.
Maintain Routines
One of the hardest parts of the back-to-school season is getting back into the routine. A completely unstructured summer can make starting a new grade feel exhausting and stressful. Kids are tired, out of practice, and can be frustrated when school starts.
Adding just a touch of structure to summer routines—say, scheduled reading time or weekly math practice—helps students stay in the zone, so returning to school is exciting, not stressful.
Get Ahead This Summer
Summer isn’t just about maintaining skills, it is also a great time to catch up on missed skills and it’s also the perfect time to get ahead.
When students review material from the past year and preview content for the next grade, they walk into the classroom in the fall feeling confident and prepared. That head start can make a huge difference, especially for students who struggled with certain subjects during the school year.
Summer Studies = Fantastic Fall
We all want our kids to have a relaxing summer. But that doesn’t mean letting go of learning completely. A balanced summer, with plenty of fun and a little academic time, can help students retain what they’ve learned and start next year strong.
So, instead of spending the first few weeks of school reviewing old material, your child could be moving forward, raising their hand confidently, and building a strong foundation.
Stop Summer Learning Loss Before it Begins
Summer learning doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fun. It’s about keeping the brain active, staying curious, and continuing to grow—even if it’s just a little bit each week.
Next year’s school success begins in the summer. With the right support, your child can beat summer learning loss and head into the new school year feeling motivated, prepared, and ready to shine.
Want to learn more about how to keep learning going this summer, without the stress?
Discover how our summer programs are designed to keep kids engaged, confident, and having fun.
