Sunshine & Success: Fun, Brain-Boosting Ways to Beat the Summer Slide

Kathleen Boss, Psy.D.

The academic year has been over for several weeks, and July’s long, bright days are beginning to merge into a calm summer routine. It is a perfect time for recharging—but it’s also when the “summer slide” quietly gathers speed. Research shows many students can lose a month or more of math and reading gains by August if their brains stay completely off-duty. The good news? You don’t need a boot-camp schedule to keep skills fresh. By weaving short, playful learning moments into the summer’s relaxed rhythm, you can safeguard hard earned progress while still preserving the carefree magic of summer.

1. Turn reading into a daily activity

A 20-minute reading ritual—whether it’s under a shade tree, in a hammock, or streamed as an audiobook—protects vocabulary and comprehension. Let kids choose what they read; graphic novels and sports magazines count! Visit your public library and let your child browse the aisles. Many libraries also have summer reading programs that boost motivation! Chat about characters, plots, or fun facts over lunch or start a backyard book club to add social spark.

2. Fold math and critical thinking into everyday life

Kitchen chemistry turns fractions into something you can taste: double the cookie recipe or quarter a smoothie. Budgeting vacation souvenirs teaches decimals and planning. Helping kids connect math to their everyday activities adds fun to an important life skill.

3. Consider community programs and tutoring

Local parks, museums, universities, and community centers now offer enrichment programs that blend recreation with purposeful learning. These experiences bolster academic skills while sparking curiosity. For students who ended the year below expectations, pair them with brief blocks of tutoring in small group or one-to-one sessions a couple of times a week with clear goals and progress checks.

4. Protect the rhythms that truly restore the brain

Healthy sleep, sunlight, and unstructured play are vital for memory consolidation and emotion regulation. Aim for a consistent bedtime, tech/screen curfews, and perhaps a “screen-free morning” rule. Downtime fuels creativity and self-directed motivation!

5. Co-create goals and celebrate progress

Invite kids to set one personal goal (“master a skateboard trick”) and one academic goal (“finish this book”). Track milestones on a visible chart and celebrate with experience-based rewards such as a picnic or stargazing at night. Collaborative goal-setting nurtures autonomy.

Center for NeuroWellness Can Help!

If your child’s struggles seem bigger than a summer slide—persistent inattention, disorganization, difficulty mastering basic skills, difficulty managing emotions—early assessment and intervention is key. At the Center for NeuroWellness, we offer comprehensive assessments for ADHD, learning disorders, and other psychological conditions, along with executive function coaching and outpatient therapy among our many services.

Bottom line: Preventing the summer slide doesn’t require sacrificing the magic of summer. Embed bite-sized literacy, mathematics, and curiosity into everyday adventures—while safeguarding sleep, play, and family connection. And remember: if deeper learning, attention, or emotional challenges surface, the team at the Center for NeuroWellness is ready to guide you through assessment and next steps, ensuring your child starts the new school year off refreshed and ready to leap forward.

Dr. Kathleen Boss is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in the diagnosis and assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and specific learning disabilities.