The first few weeks of summer vacation usually feel like a huge relief. Alarm clocks are off. Homework is long gone. And the frantic morning rush is on pause, for at least a couple of months.

But by mid-July, that initial excitement fades. For many parents, it’s replaced by the familiar sight of a teenager scrolling on a phone for hours.

In education, we call this the summer slide. It’s the tendency for students to lose academic gains made during the school year. Without practice, students can easily lose a few months of math and reading skills.

The challenge? You can’t just hand a 16-year-old a math worksheet in July. Keeping teens engaged requires a different approach. The key is to keep their brains active, without making it feel like school.

Here are a few practical ways to help your daughter keep the synapses firing all summer long.

Read for fun 

During the year, reading is tied to assignments or tests. Summer is the time to detach reading from grades. Encourage your daughter to read whatever interests her. It doesn’t have to be a classic novel. Biographies, young adult fiction, or long-form journalism all maintain reading comprehension. Plus, a trip to your local bookstore can be a fun way to spend a hot summer afternoon.

Find a part-time job or volunteer 

Adding structure to the week helps to prevent boredom. Western New York has plenty of nonprofits and animal shelters looking for volunteers. A part-time summer job at a local business also helps. Managing a schedule, communicating with adults, and handling responsibility builds practical problem-solving skills outside the classroom.

Summer camp or workshop 

August is the ideal time to slowly turn the brain back on. Many schools, including Mount St. Mary Academy, host summer camps and workshops designed for grade school and middle school students. These programs focus on specific interests in a low-pressure environment. It’s a great excuse to get out of the house and socialize before things start to get hectic again in September.

A productive summer doesn’t mean spending July studying for AP exams. It just means finding a balance between rest and low-stakes engagement. And then, when September arrives, that balance makes the transition back to early mornings much easier.