More than a half-century after its release, the Alice Cooper anthem “School’s Out for Summer” still unites students with its promise of “no more pencils, no more books.” Summer break is a time of freedom, fun, and much-needed rest. But without regular mental engagement, students—especially teens and tweens—can experience a decline in academic skills known as the summer slide. To help prevent summer slide in teens and tweens, it’s important to incorporate activities that keep their brains active, promote curiosity, and support continued learning during the long break.
Freed from a structured daily schedule and the demands of homework, carpools, and after-school sports, many teens and tweens (not to mention their parents) relish the idea of a months-long break to recharge their batteries, travel, attend summer camp, or work a summer job.
It’s also a time of year, though, when students can experience a decline in cognitive abilities due to a lack of mental stimulation – a phenomenon known as “summer brain melt” or “summer slide.”
Research suggests that students, on average, lose about one to two months of math and reading skills during the summer – a pattern that over several years can create significant gaps in academic progress.
Mental stimulation during the summer is crucial to ensuring that teens and tweens don’t slide backward academically. Keeping their brains engaged not only helps them retain what they’ve learned during the school year, but also encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. It also fosters a positive attitude toward learning, even when school officially isn’t in session.
Just like physical fitness, the brain needs regular exercise to stay sharp. Here are a few activities to explore to help your kids stay in peak performance over summer break.
Summer reading challenges
Encourage your child to read throughout the summer by setting up a reading challenge. Make it fun by selecting books that align with their interests, whether mystery, adventure, or science fiction. Many libraries also offer summer reading programs with rewards and incentives. Check out these local library summer reading programs: Collier County Library or Lee County Library.
Explore STEM activities
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) projects are an excellent way to stimulate creativity and problem-solving. Look for hands-on activities such as building a model rocket, creating a DIY robot, or experimenting with simple chemistry projects using household items. These activities don’t have to be overly complicated or expensive. You can find easy-to-follow kits and online tutorials that make STEM fun and educational.
Create a journal or blog
Writing can help teens and tweens improve their communication skills, build creativity, and keep their critical thinking sharp. Encourage your child to start a summer journal, blog, or scrapbook.
Online learning platforms
There’s no shortage of online courses and educational platforms designed for young learners. Websites like Khan Academy, Coursera, or Duolingo offer free or low-cost classes that can help students learn new skills or dive deeper into subjects of interest, from coding to graphic design to learning a foreign language.
Educational games and puzzles
Board games like Settlers of Catan or Ticket to Ride and card games such as Uno or Rummikub are great for promoting cognitive skills that require the use of logic, strategy, and problem-solving. Or try some of the many apps and puzzles that promote critical thinking, such as Sudoku or crossword puzzles.
Outdoor activities with a learning twist
Being outside doesn’t have to mean abandoning intellectual development. Go on nature walks and have your child document the plants and wildlife they observe or collect leaves and flowers. If they enjoy sports, consider playing a game that involves math or strategy, like keeping score in tennis or calculating the distance and speed of a thrown object.
Volunteer or part-time jobs
Volunteering with a local nonprofit, such as an animal shelter or food bank, not only helps build empathy and social skills but also provides opportunities to develop new talents and skills. Summer jobs – from mowing a neighbor’s lawn to working as a lifeguard or camp counselor – teach time management and other real-world skills, including personal finance.
Encourage creative expression
Summer is a great time to explore the creative arts – music, painting, dance, theater, photography, and more. Creativity can be a huge brain booster, so cast a wide net. Consider cooking classes to bolster culinary skills, as well as self-reliance and independence.
Balance engagement with relaxation
Keeping young brains active and agile is a year-round commitment, but it is also essential to include some unstructured free time for rest and relaxation. Make the battle against summer brain melt a multi-pronged one, a time of focused exploration, discovery, and connection.