6 Summer Learning Red Flags to Watch for in Your Kids

Our kids are always learning. Whether it’s in formal school, camps, or just the day-to-day life of being a kid, learning never stops because cognitive skills are constantly working to process new stimuli. Everything from problem-solving amongst friends at the pool to reading road signs as you drive to the beach counts as summer learning … but what if your child is struggling? 

Real-life implications of weak cognitive skills can present themselves more easily in the summer when school pressures aren’t as high, so here are some red flags to watch for:

Your Child Has an Aversion to Trying Anything Hard

Whether it’s with the excuse of “it’s summer, I don’t want to think,” or with obstinate behaviors, a lack of motivation and confidence in kids is hard to overcome. But for many kids, struggles with processing speed and logic & reasoning in particular can present this way.

In their brain, maybe they just can’t take in and process information fast enough. They feel bogged down. They literally can’t think through the situation fast enough, so they get discouraged and give up.

Or maybe it feels like their wheels are just spinning. They can’t come up with next steps without being told what to do, so they just don’t even want to start. 

These behaviors may not just be your child being stubborn—it could be a sign of a real cognitive skill weakness that is making it so much harder to think, learn, and remember.

Your Child Refuses to Read

Many kids don’t enjoy reading, but it is a critical part of summer learning for kids. Reading activates many parts of your brain to build cognitive strength, plus it fills your “information bank” with new facts or stories that you can draw from in the future.

If your child refuses to read because it’s “boring,” it could be a sign that they are not experiencing reading as richly as they could be. Poor visual processing, auditory processing, and comprehension skills make reading harder and less enjoyable. 

Whether your child is reading below grade level or just fails to find any enjoyment in reading, evaluating their cognitive skills could be the first step towards helping them catch up and become more successful!

Your Child Needs Constant Redirection or Entertainment

The life skill of being bored is SO important! This is the time where greater creative thinking processes can flourish and develop. If your child is in need of constant entertainment or is always asking you, “what should I do now?” it could be a sign that their forward-thinking skills are struggling.

Strong imagination and reasoning skills can cut down on the questions and build up their own inner awareness that can help them fill their time more effectively!

They Can’t Remember What They Read

If your child says they finished a book and you ask them what it was about, what do they say?

If their answer is always very generic or not detailed, or if they even just give a shrug and don’t have a clue, comprehension is likely a struggle for them. There are lots of things that impact your ability to take words on a page and give them meaning. Strengthening your child’s reading comprehension skills can have major impacts on their academic and professional success!

Everyday Tasks are Taking Way Too Long

Does getting dressed and going out of the house take forever this summer? Or if you give your child a task, does it takes substantially longer than you expect? These could be a sign of weak processing speed or attention.

Maybe your child just gets so distracted by everything that they can’t complete just the task you’ve asked of them. Or maybe their brain literally operates at the speed of a snail, and nothing you say or do seems to speed them up. Low processing speed and attention can impact all areas of life and make any situation more challenging.

They Have Trouble Following Multi-Step Directions

If you say to your child, “Before you can have your tablet, I need you to get dressed, brush your teeth, feed the dog, put your laundry away, and take out the trash,” can they do it? Or do they get through step 2 or 3 and then peter out, asking you what’s next?

The ability to remember and follow multi-step directions requires focus and working memory skills that are often weak in kids. If you’re noticing this tendency this summer, it’s likely translating into school and other areas of life as well.

Summer Learning Goals

The goal of your time at home this summer should be rest, relaxation, and connection… but also preparation for the school year ahead. Summer learning opportunities are great for this. But what if instead you were able to target the underlying skills that are making ALL areas of life more of a struggle?

Supporting cognitive skills can translate into changes in all areas of life.

Take this FREE brain quiz today to see if your child may have any cognitive skill weaknesses!

And if you’re surprised by the results or want more information, our in-depth cognitive skills assessment can make it clear why your child is struggling and what they need in order to succeed. Learn more here >>