“Let Them Rest” vs. “Keep Them Learning”: The Great Summer Slide Debate

Is summertime the reset kids need—or an academic setback? Parents and teachers are divided, and it’s easy to see both sides. 

What Is the Summer Slide?

The summer slide—also known as summer learning loss—is the decline in academic skills that can happen when kids take an extended break from structured learning over the summer months. For many students in the early elementary grades, this slide can mean starting the new school year already behind where they left off.

Studies show that students can lose up to two months of math and reading skills during summer vacation if they’re not engaged academically. But what happens when those same kids have been burning out under academic pressure all year long?

That’s where the debate begins. Some parents argue that summer is a much-needed pause for mental health and development—while many educators see summer learning as essential to keeping kids on track. So who’s right? And is there a middle ground?

“My Kid Needs a Break This Summer—Let Them Be a Kid”

By Alex, mom of a 9-year-old

By the time June rolled around this year, my son was exhausted. Between school, extracurriculars, therapy appointments, and homework at night, he was barely hanging on. And for what? A test score? A report card that will be forgotten in a drawer?

I’m not denying that the summer slide exists—but at what cost are we preventing it?

We talk a lot about kids’ mental health, but then we push them to fill every unstructured moment with “productive” learning. I want my son to play! To have memories of running through sprinklers, building forts, and not having a rigid schedule. That’s where creativity happens. That’s where confidence builds.

Benefits of letting kids rest in the summer:

• Supports mental health and reduces burnout. I believe that everyone needs rest, and kids are no different. This time, without any academic pressure, is like a mental health reset.

• Encourages unstructured play, which builds social and cognitive skills. It’s important for kids to get bored, find their creativity, and they’re still using their brains, but in a way that works for them!

• Fosters independence and curiosity. There are far more skills than just academic ones that I think they need time to develop. Problem solving, social skills, and so much more is happening. No need to add academics; they’re already learning so much each day.

• Allows for physical activity and downtime, both crucial for development. In the summer, my son crashes each night and sleeps longer hours than usual. I know this is a good sign, no anxiety, lots of physical activity!

If we’re constantly focused on preventing learning loss, we risk ignoring emotional gain.

And honestly? Some of the most valuable skills don’t come from flashcards. Over the summer, my son learns how to navigate friendships at the park, how to plan an afternoon without adult interference, and how to cope with boredom without reaching for a screen.

Those are life skills. No workbook required. So yes, he might lose a few reading levels—but he gains something bigger. And I believe that those life skills are far more important!

“I’m a Teacher—And the Summer Slide Is Real”

By Mr. Brian M., 3rd-grade teacher

Every September, I see the exact same thing: bright, capable students return to school and suddenly struggle with concepts they mastered just three months ago. That’s not on the kids—it’s the summer slide in action.

And every year, I hear the same line: “They need a break.”

Of course they do. But the truth is, reading for 15 minutes a day or practicing some basic math facts isn’t robbing anyone of their childhood. It’s maintaining the hard work they put in all year long!

When kids lose those foundational skills, we spend the first six to eight weeks reteaching—just to get them back to baseline. That’s the time we could’ve spent moving forward.

Why preventing summer slide matters:

• Retention is easier than relearning: Once a skill is stored in long-term memory, using it regularly helps reinforce it. But when kids take a long break, those skills fade—and relearning them takes more time and effort than simply maintaining them in the first place.

• Reading habits are built through consistency: Strong readers aren’t born—they’re built through routine exposure to books. When kids read a little each day, it becomes a habit. We don’t want our kids to start believing that reading is “homework”; they should see it as a relaxing and positive part of their day!

• Math fluency declines rapidly without practice: Math skills—especially foundational ones like addition, subtraction, and multiplication—are like muscles. If they’re not exercised, they weaken.

It’s also a matter of equity. Some families can afford tutors, camps, and travel opportunities that sneak learning into fun. Others rely on school as their child’s main source of enrichment. When we say “kids need a break,” we’re often thinking of the kids who’ve had access to everything and are likely overscheduled.

For many students, school is where they thrive—and the summer slide hits hardest when there’s no academic backup at home. A little consistency can help level that playing field.

Finding the Balance: Can Both Be Right?

Here’s the thing: both sides have valid points.

Yes, kids need rest. Yes, they deserve a break from testing and pressure. But they also benefit from keeping their minds engaged in ways that feel fun and natural. Summer doesn’t have to mean “school” or “no school”—there’s a middle ground.

I love a balanced approach:

• Set small weekly reading goals:
  Rather than pushing daily reading charts, aim for something achievable, like reading two books a week. Most local libraries offer free summer reading programs with fun incentives, so your child can stay motivated without it feeling like homework.

  Let them try reading new stuff – like magazines that may interest them, or give them small reading tasks that they may not even notice – like reading the instructions out loud to you as you build something together!

• Choose “stealth learning” activities:
  Kids don’t need to sit at a desk to learn. A trip to a science centre, following a recipe, or building a LEGO city all sneak in critical thinking, and sequencing. Without your child ever realizing they’re “doing school.”

  A trip to the store for a popsicle, but make them count out the money. Building a fort? Get them to take the measurements… math can slide into our everyday life, and they’ll be learning valuable skills – stress-free!

• Encourage journaling, storytelling, and pretend play:
  Imaginative play builds vocabulary, emotional literacy, and narrative skills—all of which support reading and writing development.

  Whether they’re keeping a summer journal, dictating stories to you, or narrating superhero adventures, they’re flexing creative and academic muscles.
  

• Use apps or printable games:
  Five to ten minutes a day on a math game app can keeps those number skills sharp. Look for ones that turn drills into challenges or adventures so it feels more like play than study. Make a deal, if you want some screentime, you can play these games.

You Know Your Child Best

Whether you lean more toward the let-them-rest side or the keep-them-learning camp, you’re doing your best. The most important factor isn’t a perfect summer schedule—it’s staying connected to your child’s needs.

You know if your kid is burnt out or breezing through. You understand if they light up at books or groan at worksheets. Start there. Whether you’re team “fireflies and free time” or team “read every day,” you’re both on team “help them thrive”