How to keep your child learning this summer without it feeling like school

What research tells us about the summer learning slide

A consistent body of research shows that children can lose ground academically over a long summer break, particularly in reading and maths. The effect tends to be more pronounced in children who have the least structured to learning during the holidays.

To prevent your child from experiencing the “summer learning slide”, you don’t need to drill times tables together on the beach. You can keep language and thinking alive through a variety of everyday activities, because that is how children's brains consolidate what they have learnt during the year.

Simple ways to keep your child's mind active this summer

Reading is the single highest-impact activity for maintaining progress across the summer. It does not matter much what children read. Graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction and long-form online content all count, as long as your child is interested and reading regularly. Aim for 20 minutes a day and let the choice be entirely theirs.

Cooking together is an underrated learning tool. Following a recipe involves reading, measuring and sequencing. Adapting one involves problem solving. Children who cook regularly develop a practical grasp of fractions and volume that transfers well to formal maths.

Museums and science centres inspire structured curiosity without any pressure. Let your child lead the visit and go at their pace. The Museum of the History of Science is free and suitable for children from around age five and up.

For bilingual families, the summer is a great time to lean into your second language. Watching a favourite film in French or English, whichever is not your child's home language, is a low-effort way of maintaining exposure without turning it into a lesson.

What learning looks like for children under seven

Children in the early years learn primarily through play and through the physical world around them. Building things, sorting objects, counting steps, identifying birds and plants on a walk – these are all meaningful learning activities, even if they bear no resemblance to a classroom.

A child who spends the summer digging in a garden, building sandcastles and making up stories with their toys is doing cognitive work that directly supports what they will do in September. Research on play-based learning consistently supports this.

The priority for young children over the summer is not content but confidence. A child who returns to school in September feeling settled, curious and socially comfortable will be in a better position to learn and excel throughout the school year.

How to prepare a child who is changing schools this summer

If your child is starting a new school in September, the summer can feel like an odd limbo. They have left one community and have not yet joined the next one. That is worth talking about with them directly, because children often feel that transition more sharply than parents expect.

Practical things help. Walk or drive the route to the new school together before term starts. If the school has a summer open day, camp or programme, attend it. Familiar faces and familiar spaces reduce anxiety significantly on the first morning.

If your child has the opportunity to meet even one future classmate before September, it can make a big difference in settling first-day nerves.

How schools support newcomers in practice

The school organises Orientation Days before the start of the academic year, giving new families and students the opportunity to become familiar with the campus, meet teachers and ask questions before the first day of school. These moments help children feel more confident and prepared as they begin their CDL journey. 

At Collège du Léman, new children are paired with a peer buddy from their first day of school. That is an active part of how the school manages the first weeks of term for new students, making sure no child navigates an unfamiliar environment without someone alongside them.

The school's early years programme is built on the principle that children learn best when they are interested in what they are doing and comfortable in their surroundings. That philosophy also shapes how teachers approach transitions, new students and the first weeks of term.

If your child is starting at CDL in September, the Admissions team is happy to talk you through what the first days will look like. New families also receive regular updates and practical information by email ahead of the start of the school year. Contact the Admissions team for personalised guidance and full information, or learn more about CDL’s early years approach on the school website.

Frequently asked questions

How do I stop my child losing progress over the summer?
The most effective approach is to keep your child reading, engaged in conversation and actively curious rather than schedule formal study. Twenty minutes of independent reading a day, combined with museum visits, cooking and outdoor exploration, maintains most of the academic gains children make during the school year.

What is the summer learning slide?
The summer slide refers to the academic regression some children experience during a long school break. It is most pronounced in children who have little structured exposure to language and critical thinking during the holidays. It is not inevitable and is largely preventable through low-pressure everyday activities.

Is it good for children to rest over the summer?
Yes. Rest and unstructured play are important for children's development and wellbeing. The goal is not to fill every hour but to keep the mind gently active alongside that rest. Even two or three engaging activities a week is enough to maintain momentum.

How can I support a bilingual child over the summer?
Lean into the second language through everyday activity rather than formal practice. Films, audiobooks, children's podcasts and visits to family or friends who speak the language are all effective. Bilingual children benefit from regular exposure to both languages even when neither is taught formally.