Don’t Let Summer Erase the School Year

Practical Tips to Keep Kids Learning

A 2026 Ozanam graduate with Dr. Danley

Summer break is a time for rest, fun, and adventure — but it can also quietly chip away at the skills children worked hard to build during the school year. Research shows students can lose two to three months of learning over the summer, and for children who are already navigating challenges, that loss can hit even harder. The good news? You don’t need expensive camps or tutors to make a difference. Small, consistent habits go a long way.

Dr. Angela Danley, Cornerstones of Care’s Senior Director of Education Programs & Services, believes that maintaining fun and easy academics will benefit students when they go back to school in the fall. Here are some of her practical tips to help your child stay sharp — and confident — all summer long.

Read Every Day — Even Just 15 Minutes

This is the single most powerful thing families can do. Reading 15–20 minutes a day at any age can significantly improve your child’s readiness for the upcoming school year. It also builds empathy, reduces stress, and supports mental health. Let your child pick the book — fiction, nonfiction, or publications such as Time for Kids or Scholastic News — it all counts.

As research reminds us: “When families create a reading culture at home, children develop crucial literacy skills that impact their entire educational journey. Studies consistently show that children who read regularly at home perform better academically. Those who talk with family about their reading show significant advantages in overall literacy development.” (Alaa, 2025)

Free resources: The Kansas City Public Library runs a free Summer Reading Program (May 30–August 15, 2025) for all ages, with prizes for logging books. The Mid-Continent Public Library and Kansas City, Kansas Public Library offer similar free programs. Sign up and make it a family affair!

Keep a Loose Daily Routine

Kids thrive with predictability. You don’t need a rigid schedule, but a consistent rhythm — wake up, meals, outdoor time, quiet reading or learning time — helps children feel secure and keeps their brains in “learning mode.”

Weave Learning into Everyday Life

Learning doesn’t have to look like school. There are endless opportunities hiding in daily life:

• Kitchen math: Measuring ingredients teaches fractions and estimation.
• Grocery budgeting: Let kids help track spending — real-world math in action.
• Storytelling: Ask your child to make up a story at bedtime.
• Puzzles and games: Board games build logic, strategy, and patience.
• Exploring outdoors: Nature sparks curiosity and observation skills.

Take Advantage of Free Digital Resources

Cost should never be a barrier to keeping kids learning. There are excellent, completely free tools available:

• PBS Kids — Free games, videos, and activities built around literacy, math, and social-emotional learning for ages 2–8.
• Khan Academy Kids — A 100% free, ad-free app for ages 2–8 with thousands of reading, math, and social-emotional learning activities. No subscription required.
• Khan Academy (for older students) — Free video lessons and practice for grades K–12 across every subject.
• Your local public library — Free books, e-books, audiobooks, programs, and summer reading challenges for every age.

Consistency matters more than cost. A free app used daily is better than an expensive program used rarely.

Balance Structure with Free Play

Don’t over-schedule the summer in the name of learning. Free play is essential for brain development and social skills. The goal is balance — some structure, some guided learning, and plenty of unstructured time to just be a kid.

Start Early, Adjust as They Grow

Summer learning loss can begin as early as the elementary years, when foundational reading and math skills are still forming. Younger children do well with play-based learning and reading aloud together. Older students benefit from more independence — goal setting, journaling, or exploring topics they’re genuinely curious about.

How Cornerstones of Care Supports Students Over the Summer

At Cornerstones of Care, we recognize that summer learning loss can be especially pronounced for the students we serve. Our current students at our K-8 day treatment school attend Extended School Year (ESY) if they meet the eligibility requirements through their Individualized Education Program (IEP). ESY helps students maintain their academic and behavioral goals, stay engaged, and avoid significant regression. We work to avoid this regression, so our students return to school in the Fall ready to learn.

The Bottom Line

Success in the fall isn’t just about test scores — it’s a child who returns confident, happy, and ready to learn. When families create a reading culture and sprinkle learning naturally into summer life, they give their children a gift that lasts far beyond September.

You don’t have to do it all. Just do something — every day.