Kids in the U.S. typically experience something referred to as the summer slide or summer knowledge loss. This happens over the long summer break when knowledge is lost. It is basically the academic version of “if you don’t use it, you lose it”. The effects are measurable in students of all ages, but the loss seems to be greater in higher grades. According to the Brookings Institute, math skills see greater decline than reading, but the amount of decline varies by geographic region, income, and grade level.

One way to stem the loss of knowledge for your student is through summer school programs (although quality of programs vary greatly) and reading programs. Having kids read, even for a short period of time each day, helps to stem the loss of knowledge and skills. This can be accomplished by making sure your student has access to books during the summer break. You might also consider signing them up for a summer reading program. The DeSoto Public Library has a program with lots of books and prizes. This year, the theme is A Universe of Stories and covers all sorts of cosmic books, story time, crafts, and movies about space.

Other libraries have summer programs as well, so you might check out one near you to see what they offer. It’s not just something for the kids to do. It’s good for maintaining skills during the long summer months when kids are tempted to slack on their academics. It’s also good for teachers and schools since it means less time is spent in August and September on remedial learning.