Summer break represents leisure and excitement—but it is often a time of learning loss known as the summer slide. Staying a step ahead of children’s education during their time off can prepare them for the school year ahead and beyond. Children who are accustomed to regular experiential learning become equipped for the future and can advance beyond the standard curriculum for the upcoming school year.
Education doesn’t have to be a chore, and a positive connection to it at an early age allows children to build curiosity, ask questions and seek more knowledge. Technology can be a great tool for learning, but one way to prevent learning loss is to incorporate fun, mini excursions throughout the summer, to lessen screen time. Whether it’s art, science, history or technology, the region is full of engaging museums, experiences and culture.
A site that hosts events and space for interactive, customized and collaborative learning is the local library. Plus, many offer museum passes at no cost to acclaimed historical experiences in New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York.
Not only can children explore genres and types of literature in the library, but they also can participate in story times, crafts, book clubs, game nights, cooking classes and more. Regardless of a child’s interests and age group, there’s something for everyone.
“All year round, we offer a variety of events [that] promote learning, literacy and making, encouraging students, in particular, to continue learning after the school day is done. By attending an event at the library, you are entering a unique space that is much more informal than a typical classroom setting. You are most likely encountering others in your community whom you’ve never met before, and you are free of certain standards or expectations that you may often feel beholden to by a school curriculum. Oftentimes, our youths are learning and having fun without even realizing it,” says Jasmine Riel, teen services librarian at Cherry Hill Public Library (CHPL).
One example is an annual summer reading program that incentivizes a commitment to reading and to actively engaging with books. This year, libraries across South Jersey and beyond have incorporated the theme: “Color Our World: Colorea Nuestro Mundo.” Accompanying events are available alongside the program—which is available to all ages and allows participants to track their reading for prizes. Givane “Gigi” Hayes, Burlington County Library System’s chief librarian who also manages public services, describes the theme as “[a celebration] of creativity and diversity through art.”
“Reading and literacy are connected to every aspect of our lives. Books quite literally put the world at your fingertips,” she says. “Books and reading help build curiosity, empathy and are a great first place to begin to explore the world, locally and globally.”
Another tip to build an affinity for reading is by giving children the freedom to explore their interests and follow new ones, developing expanded, well-rounded knowledge along the way.
“I’ve had the opportunity to watch many of our patrons grow up and I am always moved by how their library experiences and love for reading have impacted who they are and their choices beyond high school,” says Riel. “While schools have a lot of required reading built into curriculums, the public library is an amazing learning space to explore any and all kinds of literature. At CHPL, we believe in every user’s right to read—and not read—whatever they’d like. By promoting a love for books early, children are taught to see books as avenues for not just learning, but for imagination, relaxation and empathy.”
Yet, while learning, reading and creating for amusement are foundational, there are inevitably subjects for which children need some extra assistance.
“Practicing school skills over the summer, specifically reading, math and writing skills, keeps you up to speed. Studies show that the summer slide is much less great if [continued summer learning] happens. In fact, most of our kids don’t see a summer slide. They see significant gain over the summertime,” says Rich Bernstein, executive director of Huntington Learning Center.
Bernstein explains that the most popular tutoring services offered are reading, study skills, test prep and math—specifically word problems. Students may excel in one subject but may struggle with the teaching methods implemented for another.
“Right now, we’re seeing many kids whose math skills have been lagging since COVID. In many cases, despite getting strong grades, they still miss many of the fundamentals that are necessary to succeed and further grades throughout their life,” he says. “It’s a very inexpensive proposition to find out how well a student is doing, where their skills really are. It doesn’t take a lot of time; it doesn’t take a lot of money. For peace of mind, if nothing else, it pays to find out … because, unfortunately, report cards don’t tell the whole story.”
Successful learning is about customizing a plan that works for each unique child, which is difficult to obtain from a classroom. With a one-on-one tutor, children can find new techniques and mechanisms that make material easier to register. This can be built upon the foundational skill of looking at things from various perspectives—achieved most efficiently through reading, writing, creating and applying educational scenarios to everyday life.
Bernstein encourages writing handwritten notes and cards, in a journal, or anywhere else to practice what he refers to as a “lost art.” For math, he recommends incorporating it beyond memorizing times tables. Make it a game by trying to beat the clock solving as many problems as possible, or engage in something as simple as estimating the new cost of an item on sale at the store. Ultimately, educational opportunities are everywhere and endless—even at home.
“The library also provides access to phenomenal resources such as Udemy and Kanopy, which offer hundreds of self-paced digital learning experiences that can be done at home or in the library. We also offer STEAM Academy Launchpads, loanable preloaded tablets with apps devoted to specific subjects,” says Hayes. “Using these summer months for recreational reading and exploring personal interests in an unstructured environment is strongly linked to creativity and confidence and keeps kids engaged for the school year.”
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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 22, Issue 4 (July 2025)
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