May. 14 2025
Children can lose up to three months of learning over the summer. Here are ways to keep minds active.
Summer is a time for fun, but it is also important for children to keep learning when they are out of school. Without activities to keep their minds active, kids can lose important skills that need to be relearned before they start working with a new curriculum; this is the summer slide or summer learning loss. Many children in Canada forget what they learned the year before during the summer break if they don’t continue to be engaged with new ideas and activities. In underserved communities there are fewer fun summer learning opportunities for young people than in areas with lots of resources. Many families are looking for summer school alternatives for kids: places where children will be active, see their friends, and have a great time—all while reading and learning new things.
United for Literacy summer literacy programs keep kids engaged and help them hold on to everything they learned during the school year. By participating in crafts, cooking, experiments, and other activities that combine fun and education, kids improve their skills, build confidence, and develop a love for learning that lasts through the summer and into the next school year.
At United for Literacy, we want every child to thrive. Our programs make sure that children all over Canada have the chance to learn and grow during the summer months.
Summer learning loss, also known as summer slide, is a concern for many teachers, parents, and students. It is the loss of knowledge that occurs over summer holidays when children do not continue to read and learn new things. Kids can lose up to three months of knowledge (e.g., foundational reading, writing, and math skills) in the break from school. This setback can happen in any child and is more common in those without access to educational activities over summer holidays. The children most affected are those growing up in underserved areas or in low-income families. Experts estimate that this phenomenon can result in a loss of up to 25% of annual learning, particularly among those most at risk of dropping out of school (Augustine et al., 2016).
Children without the same access to the opportunities for enrichment—vacations, books, sleepover camps, trips to museums and art galleries, etc.—as other children are less likely to build on what they learned the previous year. As a result, more work is required to catch up when school begins, which makes it difficult for teachers to move ahead with the syllabus. When the class advances, children who are struggling to remember last year’s materials may give up in frustration.
Children who have difficulty reading, writing, or doing math at grade level in elementary school are at a disadvantage in secondary school. The cumulative effect of learning loss year over year limits options for post-secondary education and, later, work choices. In today’s technology-driven world, this can have a detrimental impact on a person’s life.
The good news is that summer programs can help prevent gaps in learning and knowledge retention. Kids who stay engaged in learning activities throughout the holidays are more likely to keep their skills sharp and return to school prepared to build on what they know.
Our summer literacy programs are designed to address learning challenges, ensuring that kids don’t lose critical grade-level knowledge. The fun and educational activities help kids build the skills they need to succeed and avoid summer learning loss. This means that teachers can build on last year’s lessons sooner instead of reteaching last year’s lessons. Summer literacy programs help provide educational equity and bridge socioeconomic gaps.
Last summer, campers across the country spent over 44,170 minutes reading. and more than 71,000 minutes were spent on physical and outdoor activities! In addition, United for Literacy
Distributed 15,874 brand-new books, including books by Indigenous authors
Delivered 626 literacy kits
Hosted 641 community visitors who came to host or participate in a scheduled camp activity
Welcomed 183 guest presenters who shared their knowledge about diverse topics with campers
Received 1,171 parent visitors to show them—in real time—what Summer Literacy Camps are all about
Integrated 261 Let’s Talk Science activities to campers as part of almost 33,540 total minutes spent on STEM learning.
To learn more about our Summer Literacy Camps, please read our 2024 Camp Report.
In Manitoba, United for Literacy has been hosting the Elmwood Summer Literacy Camp for almost 10 years. Two 3-week, free summer programs for kids aged 6-12 take place over the summer holidays. Camp activities focus on critical thinking, creativity, community, and the literacy skills that are central to all we do. Literacy Camp gives kids a chance to maintain and develop important skills that they might otherwise lose over the school break.
The Elmwood Summer Literacy Camp runs in partnership with the Elmwood Community Resource Centre (ECRC) and Chalmer Community Renewal Initiative Inc. (CCRI),which helps with funding and staff—and keeps it free for families. The camp is held near outdoor parks and playgrounds, making it simultaneously perfect for learning and playtime.
This is a diverse community with many newcomers, Indigenous peoples, and young families. For many newcomer children, camp is a great place to practice English and build confidence. As camp counsellor Harnette Vivo says, “It’s amazing to see the kids grow and gain confidence.”
Another camp counsellor, Jane Torres, says, “We make learning feel like fun activities. Watching the kids become confident learners is the best part of the camp.”
The Elmwood Summer Literacy Camp helps kids stay engaged in learning over the summer. This makes back-to-school time better for teachers and students since more time can be spent learning new and interesting things.
The Reading Squad project, occurring in Estrie and the Brome-Missoquoi and Haute-Yamaska regional county municipalities (MRCs), aims to combat summer learning loss (also known as the summer slide) and foster a love of reading in children. These activities are offered entirely free of charge, and participants receive new books to encourage reading at home.
Summer learning loss is part of a cycle of social inequality between children who have greater access to books and the joy of reading and those who do not (Quinn & Polikoff, 2017). That is, children who have money to buy books and who have access to a library are more likely to read and keep learning over the summer. This leads to greater school success, better jobs, and increased earning opportunities in the future.
The Reading Squad gets books into kids’ hands and helps them develop a love of reading over the summer months. It promotes literacy and engagement in learning, which supports skill retention and academic success for children and youth. In the long term, it also breaks the cycle of inequality.
The Reading Squad program builds skills at all levels, including training day camp facilitators to lead activities. In becoming a facilitator, people build leadership skills and learn new ways to support literacy for their young participants in an informal and playful environment. This approach not only targets priority communities but also reaches a broader audience through day camps. Additionally, by training camp facilitators, the program empowers them to become positive reading role models for children.
Summer reading programs give children—especially those who don’t have regular access to books at home or at the library—a head start when they return to school in September. When they go back to class ready to build on their learning, school becomes a place where curiosity and the desire to learn come to life. This confidence leads to greater success in elementary school and helps young people see the possibilities that come with earning a high school or postsecondary diploma. A summer reading camp may offer crafts, games, or storytelling, but above all, it becomes a true catalyst for a lifetime of learning.
What is summer learning loss in children?
Summer Learning Loss is the education gap that occurs over the seasonal school break. Many students lose up to three months of what they learned in the previous year, including basic literacy skills.
Why is summer learning important?
Keeping kids reading and learning during the summer break helps them return to school better prepared and more confident in their reading, writing, and math skills. Arriving back at school in September means that teachers can build on previous learning and literacy development. This means that every child can gain the foundational knowledge they require to move through school successfully.
How can families prevent summer learning loss?
Having resources like books, print newspapers, and computers at home can help prevent learning gaps over the summer. But it isn’t just about materials. Studies show that in when family literacy includes high-quality parental engagement, including conversations, reading to their children, and modelling literacy (e.g., parents who read in front of their children) have higher levels of summer learning.
Visiting the library, local museums and art galleries (many have free or pay-what-you-can hours), and other activities can help children learn new things, feel good about themselves and where they live, and engage their curiosity and imaginations.
References
[1] Virginie Nanhou, Hélène Desrosiers, Karine Tétreault et Frédéric Guay. La motivation en lecture durant l’enfance et le rendement dans la langue d’enseignement à 15 ans, Volume 8, fascicule 3, Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), novembre 2016 [https://bdso.gouv.qc.ca/docs-ken/multimedia/PB01600FR_lecture_enfance_H00F00.pdf]
[2] Scott Davies & Janice Aurini, J. Summer learning inequality in Ontario | Canadian public policy. University of Toronto Press, June 2013. https://utppublishing.com/doi/full/10.3138/CPP.39.2.287
[3] Megan Kuhfeld, Rethinking summer slide: The more you gain, the more you lose, June 6, 2019, Kappan Online [https://kappanonline.org/rethinking-summer-slide-the-more-you-gain-the-more-you-lose/]
[4] Rappelons que les occasions de pratiquer les mathématiques sont moins fréquentes pour tous pendant l’été et que les apprentissages dans cette matière sont plus faciles à oublier puisqu’ils sont plus factuels.
