Prevent Summer Learning Loss Before It Starts

The idea of tutoring over the summer might not sound like the most appealing pastime. As a parent, the thought of your child being stuck at home at a table solving equations while they should be enjoying the summer months is understandably daunting. Though, it is not a matter of merely replacing fun with learning, rather an integration of the two.

To many parents summer learning may seem like it could interfere with the fun of being a kid.  No parent wants to ruin their child’s summer, but at Tutor Teach, we can assure you that it won’t. It might even make it more enjoyable.

We value a necessary balance between play and learning, and we’re confident we can provide that balance. By choosing to prevent a potentially unproductive summer, you're helping your child avoid the dreaded summer slide — a phenomenon where students lose academic progress over the break.

The Summer Slide 

Although play is essential to a child’s development, it doesn’t have to come at the cost of learning. Removing learning entirely from a child’s environment during the summer leaves them within a pensive state. Studies show that kids who take a break from learning during the summer are prone to a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”

According to Dr. Harris Cooper at Duke University, students can lose up to three months of academic progress over the summer. Just as learning builds progressively during the school year, it can erode during a long break. The summer slide can especially affect literacy and numeracy — core skills that are difficult to re-establish once lost. 

A study in the American Education Research Journal, tracking students in grades 1 through 6 over five summers, found that “52% of students lost an average of 39% of their total school year gains during the summer months.”

One of our parents, Sabrina K., shared this testimonial: “We have been with Tutor Teach for over a year and we are going into our second summer. Last year we did it so my kiddo wouldn't lose everything he learned from the year before. This year the hope is for the same thing but also to grow my kiddo’s overall confidence. We are very excited to continue the summer again!”

By continuing education throughout the summer, your child retains hard-earned knowledge, strengthens recall, and builds momentum going into the new school year.

Stacking Building Blocks of Knowledge

Children develop through building blocks of knowledge. Each new concept builds on what came before. Your child works hard during the school year — maintaining their progress over the summer is key to long-term academic success.

Because school follows a fast-paced tiered structure, students must retain foundational skills to succeed in the next grade level.  Without reinforcement, summer can set students back — leaving them to relearn old material in the fall, rather than moving forward.

This can create a frustrating cycle: learn, forget, relearn — year after year. Continuous learning keeps students progressing, not plateauing.  

Integrating Play into Learning 

To prevent learning from replacing fun, Tutor Teach embraces play-based learning over the summer.

This approach brings out each child’s unique strengths while developing cognitive skills in a way that feels natural and engaging. It encourages curiosity, creativity, and joy — making learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure.

Summer tutoring also allows kids to explore their interests more deeply. Whether it’s reading, math, science, or art, they can pursue passions while developing core skills and confidence. With a relaxed structure and personalized support, learning becomes something they look forward to.

And because summer tutoring is flexible, we can work around your family’s schedule — from vacations to camps to quiet days at home. Imagine your child spending their summer days creating a bug journal to practice biology, building a rock collection for geology, writing about their summer adventures to improve literacy, or cooking meals to explore math and science concepts. 

A summer tutor can guide these activities — keeping your child engaged and excited, sometimes without even realizing they’re learning.

Learning Under the Sun 

Summer tutoring also opens the door to outdoor education — transforming nature into the classroom.

Picture muddied hands solving math problems with pebbles, sandy shoes after digging for fossils, or the thrill of jumping in puddles after learning about precipitation. Outdoor learning is not only engaging — it’s effective.

97% of teachers say outdoor play is critical for children’s development, and 88% say students are more engaged when lessons take place outside.

Sunlight itself has been shown to improve cognition — enhancing clarity, focus, and mental performance. Learning outside combines all these benefits in one immersive, memorable experience.

Tutor Teach summer sessions tap into that wonder — creating a blend of education and exploration that builds skills while inspiring curiosity.

Ready to keep your child curious, confident, and on track this summer?

Join the families across Canada already integrating fun and learning with Tutor Teach.

Ressources:

School’s Out: The Role of Summers in Understanding Achievement Disparities