Avoiding the summer brain drain

Summer break - every kid's favorite time. With school out, kids say goodbye to worksheets, books, and projects, and hello to endless fun. But what happens when learning takes a break too?

According to Sabiha Kanchwala, MD, a pediatrician at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, many children experience a decline in academic skills over the summer months. Studies show kids can lose up to 20% of their reading skills and up to 27% of their math skills from the previous school year.

What is the summer brain drain?

Also referred to as the summer learning loss or "summer slide," this decline happens during long breaks when children are no longer engaged in regular academic activities.

"Summer breaks can last two to three months, which is a significant amount of time to be away from school and structured learning," Kanchwala says.

Over time, this gap can cause children to lose both knowledge and skills, making it harder to regain momentum when they return to school in the fall.

How to prevent summer brain drain?

The good news is that preventing the summer slide doesn't require turning summer into another school semester. Small, consistent habits can make a big difference.

Practice a little math every day

To maintain math skills, Kanchwala encourages parents to incorporate simple, real-world math into everyday activities.

"This can look like asking kids to calculate a tip when eating out or using fractions when baking and measuring ingredients," Kanchwala explains.

Read 20 to 30 minutes a day

Regular reading is one of the easiest ways to keep skills sharp. Encouraging children to read for even 20-30 minutes a day can help maintain and even improve their comprehension and vocabulary.

Explore learning through activities and outings

Fun activities and outings are also a great way to keep kids engaged and curious. Some examples include:

• The zoo

• The aquarium

• Art or science museums

• Farms

• Historical landmarks

• Nature centers

Limit screen time

While screens can be tempting during the summer, Kanchwala recommends keeping screen time under two hours per day to encourage more active and engaging alternatives.

Stay active

Physical activity is another important part of summer learning and development. Aim for at least 30 minutes to an hour of activity each day.

"You don't want it to feel like a punishment," says Kanchwala. "Find ways to make learning fun and natural for your kids."

Interested in learning more about pediatric care at LLUCH? Visit lluch.org.