Parents can combat “brain drain”—the academic skills lost during vacation—by keeping children actively engaged in reading, household chores, and a nutritious diet as the new school year begins. [1]
Reading
Research indicates that summer learning loss affects children differently. Kids who stay engaged through educational activities or enriching experiences often maintain or build their skills. Schools attempt to address this by sending home reading lists.
“Research now shows that learning loss isn’t the same for every child.”
Reading helps strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. Experts suggest that parents encourage children to review reading lists early and set goals to finish a book every week or two. Reading for just 15 to 20 minutes a day can keep literacy skills sharp.
Chores
Children of all ages can also take a larger role in household chores to maintain their skills. Everyday activities like grocery shopping, meal planning, budgeting, and cooking provide practical opportunities to practice math, reading, and problem-solving. Children can calculate meal costs, compare grocery store prices, or alter favorite family recipes by doubling or halving the ingredients.
Nutrition
Summer nutrition also supports a child’s ability to learn. Evidence suggests that overall diet quality matters, with a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats supporting growth, brain development, and concentration.
“Everyday activities like grocery shopping, meal planning, budgeting, and cooking provide valuable opportunities to practice math, reading, and problem-solving skills.”
Recent studies have associated diets high in ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages with poorer academic performance. A simple dietary goal is to “eat the rainbow.” Offering colorful fruits and vegetables throughout the day provides a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. Dietary guidelines suggest including at least one dark green vegetable and one red or orange vegetable daily.
Incorporating kid-friendly recipes featuring dark green vegetables like broccoli or spinach, along with red and orange vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes, helps fuel growing bodies and minds for the classroom.
Notes:
- ^Dole. (2026). Battling Summer Brain Drain – Dole. Dole. Retrieved from https://www.dole.com/blog/battling-summer-brain-drain (go back ↩)
