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Summer is a special time for kids: it’s full of sunshine, adventures, and a well-deserved break from the classroom. But as wonderful as summer can be, it can also bring an unwanted guest: summer brain drain. Also known as summer learning loss, this phenomenon occurs when children lose some of the academic skills they gained during the school year. But all is not lost! The good news is, with the right strategies and engaging resources, you can easily prevent summer brain drain and turn it into summer brain gain.
Table of Contents:
- What Is Summer Brain Drain?
- Why Does Summer Brain Drain Happen?
- The Impact Of Summer Learning Loss
- How Mrs Wordsmith Makes Summer Learning Fun
- Top Tips for Parents to Prevent Summer Brain Drain
- Make This Summer Count
What Is Summer Brain Drain?
Summer brain drain refers to the learning loss that happens when students are out of school for an extended period. Studies show that children can lose up to two months’ worth of reading and mathematics skills over the summer, making the transition back to school more challenging, even having an impact on their long-term academic success [1].
Why Does Summer Brain Drain Happen?
When daily routines change and structured learning gets put on hold, it’s easy for kids to forget important concepts. Without regular reading, writing, or problem-solving activities, their brains effectively take a vacation, too. However, keeping your child’s mind active doesn’t have to mean endless worksheets or boring drills—fun, interactive learning works best.
The Impact of Summer Learning Loss
- Students can lose up to 40% of their school-year learning gains during summer break [2].
- On average, kids lose about 2 months of reading skills and 2.6 months of math skills over the summer [3].
- By the end of primary school, summer learning loss can account for two-thirds of the achievement gap between low-income and higher-income students [4].
- Skills like focus, management and planning can also regress, which make returning to school after summer more difficult [5].
How Mrs Wordsmith Makes Summer Learning Fun
At Mrs Wordsmith, we believe learning should be as fun as it is effective. Our award-winning resources are designed by literacy experts as well as Hollywood artists to make literacy irresistible for kids. Here’s some of our best-selling products that can help prevent summer brain drain setting in:
Readiculous Phonics Game
This highly engaging video game helps kids master essential phonics and early reading skills twice as fast as traditional methods. With just 10 minutes a day, our Readiculous app can make a significant difference in your child’s reading progress.
Word Tag Vocabulary Game
Kids create their own characters, explore vibrant worlds, and unlock new words through quests and challenges – all while they’re expanding their vocabulary (by over 1,000 words per year!). Every word is paired with memorable illustrations and audio, making vocabulary practice feel just as fun as regular play.
Storyteller’s Word a Day
This beautifully illustrated daily calendar introduces a new, rich vocabulary word each day. Each word comes with a funny illustration and a simple, kid-friendly definition—perfect for budding writers and curious minds.
Blah Blah Blah Card Game
This fast-paced, family-friendly game that encourages kids to use, define, and act out vocabulary words in creative ways. It’s perfect for playdates, family gatherings, or rainy summer afternoons.
Storyteller’s Card Game
Spark creativity and improve narrative skills with this clever card game. It’s designed to prompt kids to build stories using character, setting, and plot cards. It’s great for practicing sequencing, vocabulary, and descriptive language.
Printable Resources
From early phonics and handwriting to advanced reading comprehension and creative writing, our printables are curriculum-aligned and packed with hilarious illustrations. They offer flexible, screen-free learning for every age and stage.
Top Tips for Parents to Prevent Summer Brain Drain
- Read Together Daily: Even 10–15 minutes of reading each day makes a big difference.
- Make Learning Part of Play: Turn cooking, gardening, or everyday outings into vocabulary-rich learning opportunities.
- Encourage Writing: Have your child write stories, postcards, or keep a summer diary.
- Set Learning Goals: Track progress and celebrate milestones with fun rewards.
- Use Educational Apps: Choose high-quality apps and games that reinforce reading and vocabulary.
- Balance Screen Time: Combine digital learning with hands-on, offline activities to keep kids engaged and avoid screen fatigue.
Make This Summer Count
Preventing summer brain drain is all about keeping kids curious, engaged, and having fun. With Mrs Wordsmith’s award-winning resources and a few creative routines, your child can return to school confident and ready to learn!
https://mrswordsmith.com
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