The air smells warm, sweet, and the surrounding area is vibrating with the hum of cicadas and the nostalgic coo of the mourning dove; it is a typical Lynbrook summer day. The heat is persistent, but the initial feeling of freedom and excitement from early June has already been dimmed by the repetitiveness of summer. As the sun stretches the days longer, it becomes more difficult to find ways to spend them. Eventually, August fades into September, taking the opportunity to do something rewarding over the summer with it. To prevent the summer from becoming dull, students need to engage in new experiences and activities by learning something new.
The phenomenon known as the “summer slide” is the regression of academic knowledge and skills that students experience over the summer break. The summer slide not only results in the loss of academic ability, but it also contributes to anxiety, depression, and decreased mental health. Sage Journal (journals.sagepub.com) conducted a meta-analytic review of 39 studies and found that the academic loss over the summer equaled about one month of education on a grade-level equivalent scale. This means that the lack of mental stimulation over the summer leads to the loss of about one month of academic content. “I would say that throughout the summer my intelligence definitely goes down. I also forget [almost] everything I learned [during the school year],” reflected junior Sarah Kotlyar. Prairie Care (prairie-care.com) reported in an article entitled “Summer Slide: How to Avoid Teen Learning Loss and Mental Health Risks in Summer” that “The shadow of potential academic failure can be a source of emotional stress. As a result of the summer slide, students may experience anxiety, reduced self-esteem, greater irritability, and depression, not only when they return to school but also during the summer.”
The lack of structure during the summer may lead to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that only occurs in individuals during specific seasons. This type of depression is influenced by changes in seasons and often begins and ends each year at the same time. Maintaining a regular schedule is positively correlated with better mental health. Routine and structure tend to fall apart over the summer break, resulting in individuals feeling a lack of motivation, purpose, or direction. According to “The Importance of Planned Structure,” (thewellbeingthesis.org) an article by The Wellbeing Thesis, “A regular routine can help you maintain your circadian rhythm, which is good for your physical wellbeing and particularly your sleep. A regular structure also creates a sense of familiarity and control that can reduce your stress levels and help you feel more in control of your time and life generally.” The article explained how a routine can provide a psychological sense of progress throughout the day, which is often lost during the summer months. “Psychological sense of progress” refers to the feeling of advancement, achievement, and motivation that individuals experience in their day-to-day lives. Routines give activities structure and help reduce the feeling of being lost or undirected.
To combat the summer slide and establish structure, it is important to spend time doing activities that are fulfilling. The best thing to do with excess time over the summer is to learn something new and engaging. Learning something new broadens knowledge and critical thinking skills. It allows individuals to explore new interests and develop new skills while fostering growth and self-discovery. Even simply picking up a new book can keep individuals engaged and mentally stimulated. The benefits of reading are unmeasurable; reading can enhance cognitive function, memory, communication skills, empathy, and mental well-being. Reading also can increase an individual’s “theory of mind.” According to Healthline (healthline.com), the “theory of mind” refers to an individual’s cognitive ability to understand the emotions, desires, and perspectives of others and oneself.
Cooking is another great way to try something new. Trying a new recipe or food are both novel experiences that can be fun and interesting. Cooking allows one to encounter different cultures and creates an opportunity to share their own favorite dishes and heritage. Food helps bring people together, an article entitled, “Why Cooking—No Matter the Recipe—Is Better for Your Health” by EatingWell (eatingwell.com) expressed that “cooking is associated with stress relief, encouraging creativity, and feelings of positivity. It can connect us with others-bringing a partner, child or other loved one into the kitchen with us makes for fond memories.” Sophomore Isabella Viana shared her own experience with this: “Sharing food is one of my biggest love languages because it’s sort of like a gift you make someone that you can enjoy together. Along with that, I have so many positive associations with cuisine. Every good memory I have, food was typically there.”
Learning a new language can be both rewarding and useful. “Over the summer, I research topics I am interested in. I also continue [to learn languages] on Duolingo,” expressed Baili Georgoulas, a sophomore. Cambridge University (cambridge.org) emphasized the positive cognitive effects of learning another language: “Everyone can benefit from language learning. It is arguably one of the most complex mental activities you can do. So, it’s a powerful way to exercise your brain.” In the summer when students are less likely to challenge their brains, learning a language can be the perfect way to stay mentally active.
Reading, cooking, or learning a language are just a few ways to include novelty in the long months of summer vacation. There are endless opportunities to learn something new to prevent the summer slide and maintain structure. New experiences and activities can help students develop additional skills and preserve the old ones.
