15/05/2026
WHAT IS SUMMER SLIDE?
“Summer slide” is a term used to describe the loss of academic and communication skills that can happen when children are out of school for the summer. Just like muscles can weaken without regular exercise, speech, language, reading, and learning skills can become harder when children go several months without consistent practice.
For children with speech or language delays, the effects of summer slide can be even more noticeable. Skills that took months to build during the school year—such as pronouncing sounds clearly, following directions, answering questions, using longer sentences, or social communication—may slow down or regress without continued support.
Speech therapy during the summer helps children:
Maintain the progress they made during the school year
Continue building communication confidence
Strengthen speech and language skills through regular practice
Prepare for a smoother transition back to school in the fall
Reduce frustration related to communication challenges
Support reading, learning, and social interaction skills
Summer speech therapy sessions are often designed to feel engaging and low-pressure, using games, conversation, movement activities, and child-centered interests to keep learning active while school is out.
Even short, consistent therapy sessions over the summer can make a meaningful difference in helping children stay on track and continue progressing toward their communication goals.
