Beat the Summer Slide & Help Your Kids Thrive

Summer’s here! Remember the scramble to refresh your teen’s reading skills last fall? 

The “summer slide” is real – students can lose up to two months of reading progress and a month of math skills over the break. For kids in their formative years, this loss can snowball and impact future success.

But don’t fret! With a whole-child approach, you can transform summer from a potential setback into a season of growth and enrichment for your teen.

What is the Summer Slide?

The summer slide refers to the loss of academic skills that students experience when learning isn’t actively reinforced during breaks. Studies show this can be significant, impacting reading and math proficiency. Over time, this loss can accumulate, making it harder for teens to catch up when school resumes.

The Whole-Child Approach to Summer

The whole-child approach goes beyond academics, focusing on nurturing a child’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. 

Here’s how this approach can specifically help reduce summer slide and prepare your child for the new school year:

• Brainpower Boost: By incorporating activities that engage critical thinking and problem-solving skills, you can keep your child’s cognitive muscles firing. This could involve logic puzzles, science experiments, or even baking (following a recipe requires precise measurement and following instructions!).

• Reading Readiness: Don’t ditch reading entirely! Aim for short, daily reading sessions that spark their interest. Visit the library for a fresh selection of books or explore audiobooks on a family road trip. Even 15 minutes a day of consistent reading can help prevent regression and maintain reading fluency.

• Social and Emotional Learning: Social interactions and emotional wellbeing are essential for academic success. Encourage participation in summer camps, sports teams, or community events. These activities provide opportunities to build communication skills, navigate social situations, and boost confidence – all important factors for a smooth transition back to school.

Here are some more tips to promote this holistic growth during summer:

1. Foster Healthy Habits:

• Build Routines: Establish a daily schedule with time for physical activity (think hikes, bike rides!), reading, creative pursuits (painting, music!), and relaxation. Consistency provides structure and balance.

• Manage Screen Time: Encourage breaks from screens for outdoor play, sports, or hobbies. Setting limits promotes healthier habits and allows them to engage with the real world.

• Create Coping Mechanisms: Teach stress management techniques like mindfulness, journaling, or deep breathing to help them navigate challenges. These tools will benefit them throughout their lives.

2. Encourage Social-Emotional Development:

• Communication Skills: Engage in regular conversations about their feelings, experiences, and goals. This strengthens communication and emotional intelligence, key skills for navigating life’s complexities.

• Social Challenges: Support them in building healthy friendships and navigating conflicts. Encourage them to join clubs, sports teams, or community groups to connect with peers.

• Boost Self-Esteem: Help them set and achieve small goals over the summer. Celebrating accomplishments (no matter how small) builds confidence, a crucial foundation for success.

3. Promote Positive Screen Time:

• Balance Virtual & Real: Encourage a balance between online activities and in-person interactions. This helps them develop a well-rounded social life and maintain meaningful connections, essential for emotional wellbeing.

• Curate Online Resources: Help your teen discover educational websites, documentaries, or podcasts that align with their interests. Exploring educational content online can be a stimulating and enriching way to spend screen time.

• Explore Creative Apps: There are many apps and online platforms designed to encourage creativity. These could include tools for writing, music production, animation, or even coding. Exploring these tools can be a fun and productive way for teens to express themselves and develop new skills.

Introducing BonfireDW’s Thrive Summer Program

At BonfireDW, we champion the whole-child approach, especially during summer. That’s why we’re offering our FREE Thrive Summer program (downloadable flyer), designed to help kids in Grades 4-12 flourish across all aspects of their lives and keep them thriving through the Summer.  

Thrive Summer Features:

• Easily Accessible:  6 FREE 30-minute wellness check-ins (via Zoom) throughout the summer with a licensed school counselor.  

• Fostering Healthy Habits: Our experts help students build positive routines, manage screen time effectively, and develop healthy coping mechanisms for a balanced and enriching summer.

• Social-Emotional Development: We provide guidance on improving communication skills, navigating social challenges, and boosting self-confidence, ensuring teens grow emotionally and socially.

• Positive Screen Time: Through virtual sessions with qualified school counselors, teens engage in constructive and enriching activities, turning screen time into a positive experience.

Don’t let the summer slide hold your kiddo back! 

Join BonfireDW’s Thrive Summer program and equip them with the tools they need to thrive. 

Spaces are limited, so please SIGN UP NOW and together, let’s make this summer a season of thriving for every adolescent!