Prevent the Summer Slide

Congratulations parents and guardians, you made it through the school year! As we close out the school year, our parting post shares ideas on different ways to avoid the “Summer Slide.” Contrary to what it sounds like, this isn't a fun waterslide in town! Rather, the “Summer Slide” refers to a backwards academic slide that many children experience as a result of a loss of knowledge such as reading and math skills over the summer. Did you know that children can lose up to three months of academic progress over the summer?

Here are some ideas we’ve collected that might help your child avoid the Summer Slide:

• Read EVERY day for 20 minutes! This is the easiest and most straight forward way to beat the slide. Read non-fiction, fiction, eBooks, poetry, newspapers and read out loud! Local libraries have summer reading programs with incentives and rewards for books read over summer break.

• Keep a journal about your summer activities, highlights, and travels.

• Listen to Audio Books during your road trip

• Take pictures and make a summer of scrapbook

• Research hikes close to Issaquah – here’s a start! https://www.wta.org/

• Start a virtual book club

• Write a thank you note to soldiers or veterans

• Seek out online enrichment classes – there are so many to choose from

• Write a letter (yeah, snail mail!) to a friend or relative

• Write a book or create your own comic book

• Get techy and learn a new skill like graphic design, coding, or web design through online or local programs

• Integrate math, reading and following directions by getting creative in the kitchen. Older kids can design menus and create their own recipe book or box.

• Work on puzzles, Sudoku, brain teasers, crosswords, or word searches

• Plant a garden or flowerpot. Kids love to watch their plants grow and thrive!