Battling Summer Brain Drain
Keep School Skills Active at Home!
Have kids? How familiar are you with brain drain? No, we're not referring to you! Brain drain is the term commonly used to describe the learning that some children lose over traditional summer vacation when reading, math, and other academic skills aren't practiced regularly. Research now shows that summer learning loss isn't the same for every child. Kids who stay engaged through reading, educational activities, camps, travel, or other enriching experiences often maintain or even build their skills. The good news is that it's never too late to help keep young minds active before the new school year begins.
• First, keep school skills active! Schools have this in mind when they send home a summer reading list. Reading during the summer not only keeps children engaged, but also helps strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills. If left to their own devices, many children may save their reading list for the last two weeks of summer. Instead, encourage them to look over the list early and set a goal to finish one book every week or two. Even reading for 15 to 20 minutes a day can help keep literacy skills sharp.
• Next, encourage children of all ages to take a larger role in household chores. Everyday activities like grocery shopping, meal planning, budgeting, and cooking provide valuable opportunities to practice math, reading, and problem-solving skills. Have kids calculate the cost of a meal, compare prices at the grocery store, or double and halve favorite family recipes. They'll be learning without even realizing it.
• Summer nutrition also plays an important role in supporting children's ability to learn. Growing evidence suggests that overall diet quality matters. Eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats supports children's growth, brain development, and ability to concentrate. In contrast, diets high in ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages have been associated with poorer academic performance in several recent studies.
One simple goal is to "eat the rainbow." Offering colorful fruits and vegetables throughout the day helps provide a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. Aim to include at least one dark green vegetable and one red or orange vegetable each day.
We've put together a list of kid-friendly recipes featuring a powerhouse of produce to help fuel growing bodies and minds.
Dark Green Vegetables: broccoli, collard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce
• Salmon Nuggets with Spinach Cashew Dip
Red and Orange Vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers
Starchy Vegetables: corn, peas, potatoes
Other Vegetables: celery, cabbage, cucumbers, green peppers, mushrooms
• Sweet Kale Chicken Avocado Salad
For even more family-friendly recipes, healthy meal ideas, and seasonal wellness inspiration, visit the Dole Fresh Feed.
Published July 1, 2026
