Preventing the "Summer Slide": 5 Ways to Keep Kids Learning & Engaged All Summer Long

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

If you’re a parent of school-aged kids, you know the mixed feelings summer break brings: freedom from early mornings and packed school schedules on the one hand, disruption of your kids’ consistent routines on the other. How do you keep your kids engaged, happy, and healthy throughout the summer?

It might sound obvious, but without regular activities or interaction with peers, kids may start to feel detached, unmotivated, or bored. This can contribute to anxiety, additional screen time, or even behavioral challenges, which in turn make it harder to return to school in the fall—especially for students transitioning to a new school.

The good news? There’s a lot you can do beyond puzzle-piecing camp schedules and childcare options to prevent the “summer slide”, help kids retain what they’ve learned in the previous school year, and maintain their social and emotional well being. We’ll cover:

Establishing a consistent routine
Setting aside time for reading
Getting outside
Incorporating “smart” and pretend play
Finding alternatives to screen time

By incorporating these tips, the only summer slide you'll have to think about is the water slide at the pool or the tube slide at the playground!

‍‍

1. Establish a consistent(ish) routine

In the hours outside planned camps and activities, even a loose routine can offer stability and reinforce healthy habits. For younger children, this might mean:

Regular wake-up times
Daily reading
Play-based learning
A solid bedtime routine

Older kids and teens may benefit from a more flexible approach—incorporating hobbies, social time, and self-directed learning throughout the day. ‍

‍

2. Set aside time for reading, and let your child choose what they read

‍

Allowing children to choose what they read is one of the most effective ways to nurture a lifelong love of reading and prevent the summer slide: When kids have the freedom to select books that genuinely interest them and match their reading level, they are more engaged and likely to retain what they learn. 60 percent of children ages 6 to 17 say they love or like reading for fun.

Providing books tailored to your child’s interests not only ensures that reading feels personal and fun, but that it builds stronger comprehension skills and a deeper appreciation for books that maintain or improve their reading skills during the break, setting them up for success when they return to school.

Beyond learning retention, reading consistently is a great way to spark creativity and expand a child's imagination! If you’re especially looking for reads that address stress or anxiety that may come with summer transitions and routine changes, check out these recommendations from the Child Mind Institute.

‍‍

3. Get outside

Spending daily time outdoors isn’t just about fresh air and exercise—it’s a powerful way to support children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development:

Foster curiosity and problem-solving skills by getting out to the playground, inviting the neighbors’ kids over, or exploring surroundings near your home.
Develop creativity and independence by spending an afternoon building a fort, doing a nature scavenger hunt, or taking a bike ride to the park or splash pad.
Improve mood stabilization and healthy sleep cycles by simply getting the kids out into the sun for some Vitamin D!

‍‍

4. Incorporate “smart” and pretend play

Incorporating "smart play" into summer activities keeps kids engaged while strengthening critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills that will help make the transition back to school smoother:

Games and puzzles provide an opportunity for kids to brush up on academic concepts without even realizing they're learning.

For younger children, pretend play nurtures creativity and builds social skills. If you have to be indoors, consider using props or costumes to help kids step into different roles the help them explore emotions and build confidence.

‍

5. Reduce screen time with alternative activities

While screens can be an easy way to keep kids occupied, excessive screen time has been linked to increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced attention spans. Creating a balanced approach to screen time helps children develop healthy habits while encouraging them to engage in other activities.

If kids do use screens:

Opt for educational content and interactive experiences like virtual museum or zoo cameras, documentaries, language-learning apps, or coding programs.
Set expectations — set a timer! Tell your kids that after a certain amount of time, they’ll move on to independent play or switch to an activity that you can do as a family.
Watch along with them, if you have to. Depending on how young your kids are, watching age-appropriate shows or movies can expose them to more complex narrative storytelling and new ideas about the world around them.

‍

**Summer can be a time for growth and fun.**

Summer break is a time for kids to rest, recharge, and explore new interests, but it doesn’t have to mean a pause in learning or growth. By creating a flexible routine, encouraging a love of reading, prioritizing outdoor play, incorporating smart games, and reducing excessive screen time, parents can help their children stay engaged, curious, and connected all summer long.

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

If you’re a parent of school-aged kids, you know the mixed feelings summer break brings: freedom from early mornings and packed school schedules on the one hand, disruption of your kids’ consistent routines on the other. How do you keep your kids engaged, happy, and healthy throughout the summer?

It might sound obvious, but without regular activities or interaction with peers, kids may start to feel detached, unmotivated, or bored. This can contribute to anxiety, additional screen time, or even behavioral challenges, which in turn make it harder to return to school in the fall—especially for students transitioning to a new school.

The good news? There’s a lot you can do beyond puzzle-piecing camp schedules and childcare options to prevent the “summer slide”, help kids retain what they’ve learned in the previous school year, and maintain their social and emotional well being. We’ll cover:

Establishing a consistent routine
Setting aside time for reading
Getting outside
Incorporating “smart” and pretend play
Finding alternatives to screen time

By incorporating these tips, the only summer slide you'll have to think about is the water slide at the pool or the tube slide at the playground!

‍‍

1. Establish a consistent(ish) routine

In the hours outside planned camps and activities, even a loose routine can offer stability and reinforce healthy habits. For younger children, this might mean:

Regular wake-up times
Daily reading
Play-based learning
A solid bedtime routine

Older kids and teens may benefit from a more flexible approach—incorporating hobbies, social time, and self-directed learning throughout the day. ‍

‍

2. Set aside time for reading, and let your child choose what they read

‍

Allowing children to choose what they read is one of the most effective ways to nurture a lifelong love of reading and prevent the summer slide: When kids have the freedom to select books that genuinely interest them and match their reading level, they are more engaged and likely to retain what they learn. 60 percent of children ages 6 to 17 say they love or like reading for fun.

Providing books tailored to your child’s interests not only ensures that reading feels personal and fun, but that it builds stronger comprehension skills and a deeper appreciation for books that maintain or improve their reading skills during the break, setting them up for success when they return to school.

Beyond learning retention, reading consistently is a great way to spark creativity and expand a child's imagination! If you’re especially looking for reads that address stress or anxiety that may come with summer transitions and routine changes, check out these recommendations from the Child Mind Institute.

‍‍

3. Get outside

Spending daily time outdoors isn’t just about fresh air and exercise—it’s a powerful way to support children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development:

Foster curiosity and problem-solving skills by getting out to the playground, inviting the neighbors’ kids over, or exploring surroundings near your home.
Develop creativity and independence by spending an afternoon building a fort, doing a nature scavenger hunt, or taking a bike ride to the park or splash pad.
Improve mood stabilization and healthy sleep cycles by simply getting the kids out into the sun for some Vitamin D!

‍‍

4. Incorporate “smart” and pretend play

Incorporating "smart play" into summer activities keeps kids engaged while strengthening critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills that will help make the transition back to school smoother:

Games and puzzles provide an opportunity for kids to brush up on academic concepts without even realizing they're learning.

For younger children, pretend play nurtures creativity and builds social skills. If you have to be indoors, consider using props or costumes to help kids step into different roles the help them explore emotions and build confidence.

‍

5. Reduce screen time with alternative activities

While screens can be an easy way to keep kids occupied, excessive screen time has been linked to increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced attention spans. Creating a balanced approach to screen time helps children develop healthy habits while encouraging them to engage in other activities.

If kids do use screens:

Opt for educational content and interactive experiences like virtual museum or zoo cameras, documentaries, language-learning apps, or coding programs.
Set expectations — set a timer! Tell your kids that after a certain amount of time, they’ll move on to independent play or switch to an activity that you can do as a family.
Watch along with them, if you have to. Depending on how young your kids are, watching age-appropriate shows or movies can expose them to more complex narrative storytelling and new ideas about the world around them.

‍

**Summer can be a time for growth and fun.**

Summer break is a time for kids to rest, recharge, and explore new interests, but it doesn’t have to mean a pause in learning or growth. By creating a flexible routine, encouraging a love of reading, prioritizing outdoor play, incorporating smart games, and reducing excessive screen time, parents can help their children stay engaged, curious, and connected all summer long.

Hazel Editorial Team

Editorial Team

If you’re a parent of school-aged kids, you know the mixed feelings summer break brings: freedom from early mornings and packed school schedules on the one hand, disruption of your kids’ consistent routines on the other. How do you keep your kids engaged, happy, and healthy throughout the summer?

It might sound obvious, but without regular activities or interaction with peers, kids may start to feel detached, unmotivated, or bored. This can contribute to anxiety, additional screen time, or even behavioral challenges, which in turn make it harder to return to school in the fall—especially for students transitioning to a new school.

The good news? There’s a lot you can do beyond puzzle-piecing camp schedules and childcare options to prevent the “summer slide”, help kids retain what they’ve learned in the previous school year, and maintain their social and emotional well being. We’ll cover:

Establishing a consistent routine
Setting aside time for reading
Getting outside
Incorporating “smart” and pretend play
Finding alternatives to screen time

By incorporating these tips, the only summer slide you'll have to think about is the water slide at the pool or the tube slide at the playground!

‍‍

1. Establish a consistent(ish) routine

In the hours outside planned camps and activities, even a loose routine can offer stability and reinforce healthy habits. For younger children, this might mean:

Regular wake-up times
Daily reading
Play-based learning
A solid bedtime routine

Older kids and teens may benefit from a more flexible approach—incorporating hobbies, social time, and self-directed learning throughout the day. ‍

‍

2. Set aside time for reading, and let your child choose what they read

‍

Allowing children to choose what they read is one of the most effective ways to nurture a lifelong love of reading and prevent the summer slide: When kids have the freedom to select books that genuinely interest them and match their reading level, they are more engaged and likely to retain what they learn. 60 percent of children ages 6 to 17 say they love or like reading for fun.

Providing books tailored to your child’s interests not only ensures that reading feels personal and fun, but that it builds stronger comprehension skills and a deeper appreciation for books that maintain or improve their reading skills during the break, setting them up for success when they return to school.

Beyond learning retention, reading consistently is a great way to spark creativity and expand a child's imagination! If you’re especially looking for reads that address stress or anxiety that may come with summer transitions and routine changes, check out these recommendations from the Child Mind Institute.

‍‍

3. Get outside

Spending daily time outdoors isn’t just about fresh air and exercise—it’s a powerful way to support children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development:

Foster curiosity and problem-solving skills by getting out to the playground, inviting the neighbors’ kids over, or exploring surroundings near your home.
Develop creativity and independence by spending an afternoon building a fort, doing a nature scavenger hunt, or taking a bike ride to the park or splash pad.
Improve mood stabilization and healthy sleep cycles by simply getting the kids out into the sun for some Vitamin D!

‍‍

4. Incorporate “smart” and pretend play

Incorporating "smart play" into summer activities keeps kids engaged while strengthening critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills that will help make the transition back to school smoother:

Games and puzzles provide an opportunity for kids to brush up on academic concepts without even realizing they're learning.

For younger children, pretend play nurtures creativity and builds social skills. If you have to be indoors, consider using props or costumes to help kids step into different roles the help them explore emotions and build confidence.

‍

5. Reduce screen time with alternative activities

While screens can be an easy way to keep kids occupied, excessive screen time has been linked to increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced attention spans. Creating a balanced approach to screen time helps children develop healthy habits while encouraging them to engage in other activities.

If kids do use screens:

Opt for educational content and interactive experiences like virtual museum or zoo cameras, documentaries, language-learning apps, or coding programs.
Set expectations — set a timer! Tell your kids that after a certain amount of time, they’ll move on to independent play or switch to an activity that you can do as a family.
Watch along with them, if you have to. Depending on how young your kids are, watching age-appropriate shows or movies can expose them to more complex narrative storytelling and new ideas about the world around them.

‍

**Summer can be a time for growth and fun.**

Summer break is a time for kids to rest, recharge, and explore new interests, but it doesn’t have to mean a pause in learning or growth. By creating a flexible routine, encouraging a love of reading, prioritizing outdoor play, incorporating smart games, and reducing excessive screen time, parents can help their children stay engaged, curious, and connected all summer long.

If you’re a parent of school-aged kids, you know the mixed feelings summer break brings: freedom from early mornings and packed school schedules on the one hand, disruption of your kids’ consistent routines on the other. How do you keep your kids engaged, happy, and healthy throughout the summer?

It might sound obvious, but without regular activities or interaction with peers, kids may start to feel detached, unmotivated, or bored. This can contribute to anxiety, additional screen time, or even behavioral challenges, which in turn make it harder to return to school in the fall—especially for students transitioning to a new school.

The good news? There’s a lot you can do beyond puzzle-piecing camp schedules and childcare options to prevent the “summer slide”, help kids retain what they’ve learned in the previous school year, and maintain their social and emotional well being. We’ll cover:

Establishing a consistent routine
Setting aside time for reading
Getting outside
Incorporating “smart” and pretend play
Finding alternatives to screen time

By incorporating these tips, the only summer slide you'll have to think about is the water slide at the pool or the tube slide at the playground!

‍‍

1. Establish a consistent(ish) routine

In the hours outside planned camps and activities, even a loose routine can offer stability and reinforce healthy habits. For younger children, this might mean:

Regular wake-up times
Daily reading
Play-based learning
A solid bedtime routine

Older kids and teens may benefit from a more flexible approach—incorporating hobbies, social time, and self-directed learning throughout the day. ‍

‍

2. Set aside time for reading, and let your child choose what they read

‍

Allowing children to choose what they read is one of the most effective ways to nurture a lifelong love of reading and prevent the summer slide: When kids have the freedom to select books that genuinely interest them and match their reading level, they are more engaged and likely to retain what they learn. 60 percent of children ages 6 to 17 say they love or like reading for fun.

Providing books tailored to your child’s interests not only ensures that reading feels personal and fun, but that it builds stronger comprehension skills and a deeper appreciation for books that maintain or improve their reading skills during the break, setting them up for success when they return to school.

Beyond learning retention, reading consistently is a great way to spark creativity and expand a child's imagination! If you’re especially looking for reads that address stress or anxiety that may come with summer transitions and routine changes, check out these recommendations from the Child Mind Institute.

‍‍

3. Get outside

Spending daily time outdoors isn’t just about fresh air and exercise—it’s a powerful way to support children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development:

Foster curiosity and problem-solving skills by getting out to the playground, inviting the neighbors’ kids over, or exploring surroundings near your home.
Develop creativity and independence by spending an afternoon building a fort, doing a nature scavenger hunt, or taking a bike ride to the park or splash pad.
Improve mood stabilization and healthy sleep cycles by simply getting the kids out into the sun for some Vitamin D!

‍‍

4. Incorporate “smart” and pretend play

Incorporating "smart play" into summer activities keeps kids engaged while strengthening critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills that will help make the transition back to school smoother:

Games and puzzles provide an opportunity for kids to brush up on academic concepts without even realizing they're learning.

For younger children, pretend play nurtures creativity and builds social skills. If you have to be indoors, consider using props or costumes to help kids step into different roles the help them explore emotions and build confidence.

‍

5. Reduce screen time with alternative activities

While screens can be an easy way to keep kids occupied, excessive screen time has been linked to increased anxiety, sleep disturbances, and reduced attention spans. Creating a balanced approach to screen time helps children develop healthy habits while encouraging them to engage in other activities.

If kids do use screens:

Opt for educational content and interactive experiences like virtual museum or zoo cameras, documentaries, language-learning apps, or coding programs.
Set expectations — set a timer! Tell your kids that after a certain amount of time, they’ll move on to independent play or switch to an activity that you can do as a family.
Watch along with them, if you have to. Depending on how young your kids are, watching age-appropriate shows or movies can expose them to more complex narrative storytelling and new ideas about the world around them.

‍

**Summer can be a time for growth and fun.**

Summer break is a time for kids to rest, recharge, and explore new interests, but it doesn’t have to mean a pause in learning or growth. By creating a flexible routine, encouraging a love of reading, prioritizing outdoor play, incorporating smart games, and reducing excessive screen time, parents can help their children stay engaged, curious, and connected all summer long.

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About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel’s diverse, culturally competent providers specialize in the health challenges of children and teens and partner with parents and school staff to make the best care decisions for students. Hazel is committed to improving health care equity and is available regardless of family income, geography, insurance status, or ability to pay. Hazel’s mission is to transform children’s access to health care, because when students feel better, they learn better.

Learn more at hazel.co.

About Hazel

Hazel Health is the nation’s largest and most trusted provider of school-based telehealth. By partnering with districts and health plans across the country, Hazel transforms schools into the most accessible front door to pediatric healthcare. Today, Hazel’s licensed providers deliver teletherapy and virtual care (in school or at home) to over four million K-12 students, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hazel aims to remove all barriers to the mental and physical health care that children need to thrive: in school, at home, and in life.

Learn more at hazel.co.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel serves nearly 2 million students across 100 school districts, helping to reduce chronic absenteeism and unfinished learning by addressing gaps in health care access. As an extension of the school health team, Hazel helps schools immediately address student physical and mental health care needs. Hazel’s mission is to transform children’s access to health care because when students feel better, they learn better.

Learn more at Hazel.co/hazel-in-schools.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Hazel helps school districts address chronic absenteeism, unfinished learning, and school enrollment, by addressing gaps in health care access.

Learn more at Hazel.co/hazel-in-schools.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts and families to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. Instead of waiting for an appointment with a doctor or therapist, children can see a Hazel provider for a telehealth visit, at no cost to families. With guardian permission, Hazel’s telehealth platform allows children to connect with a health care provider within minutes, or a therapist within days of referral. Hazel’s providers can help with everything from allergies and stomach aches to anxiety and depression. With Hazel, children can get the care they need when they need it.

Learn more at Hazel.co/how-hazel-works.

About Hazel

Hazel Health, the leader in school-based telehealth, partners with school districts and families to provide mental and physical health services to K-12 students where they are–at school or home. At no cost, and regardless of insurance status, Hazel’s providers can help with everything from allergies and stomach aches to anxiety and depression. With Hazel, children can get the care they need when they need it.

Learn more at Hazel.co/how-hazel-works.