Summer Learning Loss and Mental Health

As the school year ends and students look forward to the summer, moods can boost and excitement increases.  Summer brings time for fun with friends, relaxation, and freedom for students.  Unfortunately, summer break can also bring the “summer slide”, or summer learning loss.   Summer learning loss affects the achievements students have made over the course of the previous school year and seems most pronounced in mathematics and reading.  Some studies have even shown increased learning loss among higher-level students. 
On average, students' achievement scores decline by about one month’s worth of school year learning over the course of the summer vacation.  This is largely thought to be due to the absence of formal and structured learning over the summer months.  The lack of regular, intellectual engagement can lead to a general decline in a student’s academic skills and this is only exacerbated by the fact that not all families are able to provide or access educational resources during the summer months.  This results in the potential loss of knowledge and skills gained during the previous school year and ongoing catch-up for students when they reenter school in the fall. 
So, what can we do to prevent and mitigate summer learning loss?  Consistent intellectual engagement is key!  It does not have to be something that is structured in the same way as a school day, and students can definitely have fun with their learning over the summer!   
The most effective way to prevent summer learning loss is participation in summer learning programs.  These programs can vary from academic camps run through schools or local community centers, summer programming run by local libraries, or online courses that students can participate in.  Community learning programs are focused on fun, social connection, and maintaining learning gains for students over the summer. 
Regular reading is also a huge part of maintaining critical thinking skills and learning gains.  According to a study published in the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, reading four to five books over the summer is “potentially large enough to prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall”.  Families can create a reading friendly environment at home, including making trips to local libraries, setting up a family summer book club, or setting up special reading zones in the home are all great ways to make reading fun for students over the summer.  Setting screen time limits also encourages students to find multiple ways to engage with reading, or other summer learning activities, instead of spending time watching tv, playing games, or scrolling on their phones. 
You can also incorporate learning into existing, everyday activities!  Learning doesn’t have to be confined to a classroom or specific summer program.  Regular, day-to-day activities can be used to encourage ongoing learning.  Activities like cooking can teach measurements and fractions, gardening can explore botany, and even a grocery trip can be an exercise in budgeting.  Even social media, used effectively, can be used to develop critical thinking skills and news media literacy. 
Another aspect of the summer slide that is less talked about is the slide in social and emotional intelligence.  While students are often excited to start their summer vacations and leave school behind for a few months, consistent disconnect from structure and guaranteed social interaction with peers and friends can lead to an increase in low moods, irritability, and anxiety as the new school year approaches.  Community center and library programs are excellent resources for encouraging social connection and providing some structured activities to break up the day.  Encouraging and setting up time for your youth to be away from screens and outside or engaging in fun activities like making slime, cooking or baking, or participating in arts and crafts projects maintains creativity and connection to a more grounded sense of self. 
For something more structured, Thrive Counseling is also offering a Dungeons and Dragons inspired summer drop-in group for social anxiety and social connection.  This group is for youth ages 13-16 and focuses on overcoming anxiety, reducing isolation, and building social skills in a supportive, non-judgmental, and affirming space. We will use collaborative storytelling to tackle the challenges around anxiety and build confidence to “roll for initiative” in your everyday life.  These groups will run at Mallett’s Creek AADL library for six weeks starting June 23rd from 3:30-4:45pm and Whittaker Road YDL library for six weeks starting June 25th from 2:15-3:30pm. Interested teens can register by signing up for one session or multiple through this link: Summer D&D Group for Teens 
Thrive Counseling also offers ongoing, individual services for children, youth, and their families to address stress, depression, anxiety, and general emotion regulation.  If you are interested in accessing services for your youth our intake form can be accessed here: JFS Screening