How to stop the summer slide without a battle
The summer holidays are a much-needed break for children and families. After a busy school year filled with lessons, homework, clubs and constant routines, the long summer gives children time to rest, play and just be themselves! I am a firm believer that they should have that time to unwind. No pressure, no strict schedules and no overloading them with worksheets or revision plans.
However, there is one thing I always encourage families to keep in mind: the summer slide.
The summer slide is what happens when children go for weeks without using the skills they have worked so hard to build during the school year. For many children, this means returning in September with lower confidence in reading or maths, and they may struggle to pick up where they left off. This is not a reflection of how hard they worked during the year; it is just the result of having a long time away from using those skills.
Luckily, you do not need a full curriculum or a home classroom to stop the slide from happening. With a few gentle habits built into your summer, you can keep your child’s learning fresh without it feeling like school.
Build reading together into your daily routine
Here are some simple, realistic ways to help:
1. Read together every day
This does not need to be a big moment or a quiet sit-down. Reading anything at all counts! That includes comics, magazines, fact books, science articles, recipe cards and even football programmes. If your child enjoys it, it is helping.
Even better, let them see you reading too. Children pick up habits from the adults around them. When you read the newspaper, flick through a book or talk about something interesting you read online; it shows your child that reading is a normal and valuable part of everyday life.
2. Make maths part of everyday life
Maths is all around us, and summer gives you the time and space to point it out. When you are in the supermarket, talk about prices or compare weights. When you are baking, ask your child to measure ingredients or double a recipe. When you are out for a meal, involve them in checking the bill or calculating a tip. It doesn’t need to be formal. Just speak aloud about what you are doing so they see how maths works in the real world.
3. Play number games at the dinner table
If your child enjoys games, use that to your advantage. Quick card games or dice games are great for number fluency. You can play snap with times tables, guess the number, or challenge each other to mental maths questions while waiting for food to arrive. These games build number confidence and make maths feel fun!
4. Keep it light and pressure free
The goal is not to recreate school at home. The goal is to keep the learning going in small but meaningful ways. If your child sees these moments as part of family life, they are significantly less likely to resist or shut down. You are building confidence and keeping their brain ticking over without it feeling like work.
September will come round soon enough. With a bit of reading, some everyday maths and a few games, your child can return feeling ready to learn. No battles or guilt. Just simple things that make a big difference.
