How many times do we hear that the summer holidays are too long? It’s interesting to begin by considering the factors which determine whether the holidays are too long. For those parents who have to work and so therefore fund childcare over the holidays, it’s a long time. For those who are at home with their children, trying to keep them occupied at low cost, it’s a long time to keep thinking of an answer to ‘What are we going to do today?’
There’s another reason why the summer holidays could be considered too long and psychologists have dubbed it ‘ Summer Learning Loss’. In essence, studies have shown that students’ performance in academic subjects is one month lower at the end of the summer holidays compared to when the holidays began. This is, of course, a generalisation for the ‘loss’ varies per subject and even within different topics in the subject and also varies dependent on what the child does during the summer.
Looking at the subjects first, maths seems to be the main loser over the summer and, in particular, the memory of and use of maths facts. Conceptual skills suffer less as they are more easily retained and more often practised, if only subconsciously.
Another area where the loss is exacerbated is in spelling ability, again for the reason that for most children it’s still about remembering the spelling rather than trying to build it up from the phonics.
The best performing area but still where there is a loss is in reading and psychologists suggest that this is because children are encouraged to read as a means of keeping them occupied, if parents are around with them, many take the opportunity to listen to their child read and many local authorities set up reading challenges in the summer which parents sign up to. That said, children of low income families where reading resources are limited also suffer summer learning loss in their reading.
The key factor seems to be what children are encouraged to do over the break. Parents who take them on educational outings to museums or festivals can stimulate summer learning gain, as can setting a programme of study over the summer involving some maths practice, spelling practice, reading and more. Others set projects for their child or send them to summer camps where it’s not just about water fights and junk modelling.
What’s needed is a recognition that long holidays where children are idle can have a negative impact when they start the new school year and that parents should ensure children should balance fun and rest with some light academic work. It’s also up to educators to recognise that a small activity pack for the summer can make the world of difference to those first few weeks back in September.
