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Summer break for kids – is it too long?

 

Well, that time has just arrived.  The kids have been out of school since the first week of June.  I have loved every minute of having them home.  I really do treasure these summer weeks because I love having all of the kids under one roof at the same time!  With that being said… I hate to complain, but I think that they are ready to be back in school.

I would rather they had a few longer breaks during the year (maybe 2 weeks here & there), instead of this very long summer break.  

Why? 

1- Back when everyone worked on their family farm, this was perfect.  Your family could work well into the evenings and get a lot done!   I don’t know about you, but my kids do not work on a farm, so that theory no longer holds true for us.

2- Did you know that kids lose an average of 2-3 months of what they learned over the summer?   I was a teacher and I definitely saw this each year.   I really try to beat the odds with our own kids by continuing to work with them over the summer.

3-  I think that the kids miss being with their school friends, away from home (being ‘independent’).   When I was younger, I LOVED school!  I really enjoyed the social part of it and I looked forward to going back each fall.  I know, when I taught, I was itching to go back to school by the end of July.  I was ready to meet my new students.  I was ready to re-decorate my room.  I was ready to make my lesson plans.   I was ready to “change lives… one child at a time…”

4). BONUS: I want my kids to be home more during the school year (I miss them when they are gone until 3:00 every day).  I hate to wait until Summer to get a big break with them, so I would rather a few longer breaks during the year.

Is summer break too long for kids

I wish that instead of a really long summer break, they would do several 2 week vacations throughout the year.  I think that kids need a few breaks during the year and this would be a great compromise!  Maybe one day…



What do you think?   (If you home-school, do you take summers off?)  Do you feel like summer break is just a few weeks too long?

Hi there!

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet coke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

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5 Comments

  1. I totally agree, a few long breaks sprinkled throughout the year would be great. My 11 year old goes to school, but we are planning on homeschooling our other kids, and I think we’ll homeschool year round with breaks as we need/want them. This is actually one reason I’m excited to homeschool, flexibility.

  2. I’m with Emily. I love the flexibility of homeschooling, where we can do just as you suggested and take longer breaks. Many homeschooling families here in Texas choose to start school again in early August, since it’s too hot to be outside much anyway. Then when the weather is pleasant, they can have extra time off or long weekends to visit family.

  3. I agree. When my kids were in school (quite long ago), the school was on a year-round calender. They attending school for 13 weeks followed by a 6 week break. It was great!

    Nowadays, in our homeschool, I follow a schedule of 12 weeks on followed by a 4-week break. It works out great.