Published: June 2, 2025
By: Tanni Haas, Ph.D.
7 Ways to Beat the Summer Slide
Do your kids seem less prepared for school after summer break? Don’t worry—they’re not alone. This common experience, known as the “summer learning slide,” affects most children. Research shows that students typically lose about a month’s worth of learning during summer break, with the effect becoming more pronounced as they get older.
Here are seven fun activities that have worked for our teenage son and can help your kids maintain their academic skills, too.
- Read a Fiction and Non-Fiction Book Every Other Week Since our son learned to read, we’ve had him alternate between fiction and non-fiction books every other week to maintain his reading and comprehension skills. Since it’s summer, we let him choose the books rather than assigning them as schools do.
- Keep a Vacation Journal During our annual family summer vacation, our son maintains a daily journal about our activities. This practice has not only preserved his writing skills but also created a wonderful record of his childhood.
- Email Family and Friends To strengthen our son’s writing skills, we encourage him to email relatives and friends, especially those we rarely see. While teenagers prefer texting, we opt for email because it promotes proper grammar and complete sentences.
- Play Math-Based Board Games Whether on vacation or at home, our evenings often include games like Monopoly or Scrabble. We emphasize the competitive fun rather than the educational aspect—this way, the learning happens naturally.
- Watch Feature Films and Documentaries Along with board games, we enjoy evening movies together. Today’s streaming services offer plenty of engaging documentaries and features that educate while they entertain. Films offer an excellent way to explore different time periods, cultures, and current events.
- Download Educational Apps While we emphasize social activities, we also embrace our son’s interest in technology by allowing educational apps. He particularly enjoys quiz apps, which, like Trivial Pursuit, expand general knowledge in an entertaining way.
- Visit Arts, History, and Natural Science Museums Museums offer excellent opportunities to engage with arts, history, and natural science. You don’t need to live in a major city—even small towns usually have nearby museums. Learning about local history at your town’s museum can be surprisingly engaging.
South Florida Indie Bookstores
When the kids are bored and crabby because it’s been hot and humid for months on end and you seek a bit of air-conditioned retail therapy, don’t forget about a trip to the bookstore. Set a budget for each kid and head out to your local shop. If you are looking for something a little off the beaten path, check out these independent South Florida book stores. And of course, there’s always the local library!
Books & Books
Books & Books is a beloved independent bookstore with deep roots in Miami’s literary scene. The shop, now with five locations, has grown into a cultural hub, hosting renowned authors, thought-provoking discussions and community events. With its carefully curated selection of books, cozy atmosphere and even a café at the Coral Gables location, Books & Books is more than just a bookstore – it’s a gathering place for readers, writers and book lovers of all ages. On June 14, Books & Books in Coral Gables has joined forces with Coral Gables Art Cinema and the Coral Gables Museum to present Family Day on Aragon: Story Time with Jackie Morera and Violeta Encarnación. Beginning at noon at Books & Books at 265 Aragon Ave., the author and illustrator will present Together We Remember, a debut picture book about finding joy despite grief. The program is free and open to the public. Books & Books has locations in Coral Gables, Bal Harbour, Coconut Grove, Key West and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit http://www.booksandbooks.com.
Bookleggers Library
A little bit bookstore, a little bit library, this small but mighty concept is Miami’s first and only free bookstore. The concept expands access to free books as a way of building community. The shop intakes books on an appointment basis, and is open to book aficionados Tuesdays through Saturdays noon to 5 p.m. Bookleggers Library is located at the Bakehouse Art Complex at 561 NW 32 St., Miami. For more information, call 305-754-5980 or visit http://www.bookleggerslibrary.com.
The Old Florida Book Shop
Tucked into an unassuming strip mall in Dania Beach, this shop might not catch your eye at first – but don’t let that fool you. If you love books, stepping inside is like discovering a hidden treasure trove. Floor-to-ceiling shelves, dark wood and towering stacks of books create an atmosphere that feels straight out of a storybook. It’s how Harry Potter must have felt entering Hogwarts for the first time – pure magic for a book lover. The shop isn’t just about books. It’s filled with antique furniture, vintage lamps, oriental rugs, an adorable cat named Peter and an eclectic mix of curiosities, all collected by owner William Chrisant over the past 40 years. The Old Florida Book Shop is located at 3426 Griffin Rd., Dania Beach. See http://www.oldfloridabookshop.com.
Rohi’s Readery
A social justice driven children’s bookstore and learning center, Rohi’s Readery aims to amplify the voices of historically marginalized communities. The store includes a curated collection of over 500 books geared to inspire, empower and educate. They also carry handmade goods from local artisans and offer a variety of programming throughout the year. The bookstore is located at 630 Seventh St., West Palm Beach. Visit http://www.rohisreadery.com.
Taschen
Known for its visually striking books, Taschen, a leading art-book publisher, elevates illustrated books to a whole new level for older kids and adults. The bookstore also offers a Young Talent Program designed to help those looking to kickstart their career within the publishing industry. Taschen is located at 1117 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. Visit http://www.taschen.com.
Raptis Rare Books
A trip to Worth Avenue is always a treat. If you have an aspiring English literature or history major in the house, they might go bonkers at this shop full of rare, and dare we say beautiful, books. Raptis Rare Books is located at 329 Worth Ave., Palm Beach. See http://www.raptisrarebooks.com.
