Screen-Free Ways to Stop the "Summer Slide"

Every June, parents breathe a sigh of relief as the school routine ends. But right behind that relief is a nagging worry: How do I keep my child’s brain active without turning summer into a battleground of worksheets?

The "summer slide" (the tendency for students to lose some of the academic gains they made during the school year) is real, but preventing it doesn’t require a rigid desk schedule. Here are five simple ways to keep your child learning naturally:

1. The "Living Room" Library Challenge: Set up a cozy reading nook with a basket of books. Include a mix of biographies, historical fiction, and a kid-friendly devotional. Aim for 20 minutes a day—lead by example and read your own book alongside them!

2. Kitchen Chemistry: Cooking is math and science in disguise. Let your child measure fractions, observe how yeast rises, or discuss how heat changes ingredients.

3. Creation Journaling: Take a weekly nature walk. Have your child collect leaves, sketch a bug, or write a short poem thanking God for the summer weather. This builds both scientific observation and creative writing skills.

4. Audiobooks on Road Trips: Swap screen time in the car for high-quality audiobooks. Stories like The Chronicles of Narnia or The Wingfeather Saga expand vocabulary and spark deep family discussions about bravery and virtue.

5. The Grocery Store Budget Game: Give your older child a budget and a small list of items. Let them use a calculator to track the total, calculate discounts, and figure out the tax.

The Takeaway: Learning shouldn't stop when the school bell rings. At LBACS, we weave curiosity and critical thinking into everything we do, preparing students to love learning all year round.

Looking for a school community that partners with you in your child’s growth? We are currently scheduling private summer tours for the upcoming school year. Click here to book a tour with our admissions team today!