Summer may feel like a break from routines, but it’s also the perfect time to lay the groundwork for a smoother, more successful school year ahead. Without the pressure of busy mornings, after-school activities, and homework, summer is a more relaxed time to work on non-academic success skills. By putting a few intentional habits in place now, your child can return to school in the fall feeling confident, prepared, and ready to thrive.

Here are five summer habits that help students ease back into academic life and build momentum for a strong start.

1. Create a Consistent (but Flexible) Daily Routine

While it’s important to enjoy slower mornings and spontaneous outings, establishing a basic rhythm to the day helps kids feel grounded. Routines support executive functioning skills, such as planning, organization, and time management, which are essential during the school year.

Try including:

• Morning time for reading or quiet play
• Dedicated afternoon “learning blocks” for educational games, writing, and meal prep
• A set bedtime and wake-up time (even if it’s later than during school)

By sticking to a light but predictable daily schedule, kids won’t feel jarred by the transition back to early alarms and structured school days.

2. Strengthen Study Skills Through Light Practice

Study habits are like muscles: They need to be exercised to stay strong. Instead of overwhelming your child with school-like workloads, use short, focused activities to keep your child’s study skills fresh:

• Complete one math review worksheet, STEM activity, or reading comprehension exercise a few times a week.
• Use flashcards to review rote information like sight words or multiplication facts.
• Set a 15-minute timer for quiet reading or journaling.

The goal isn’t rigor—it’s rhythm. When students are familiar with focused practice, it’s easier for them to get back into school routines and responsibilities when the first day of school arrives.

3. Set Personal Goals Together

Goal-setting helps children feel ownership over their learning. Summer is an ideal time to build this habit with low-stakes, achievable goals. These goals can be academic (“I want to learn 20 new vocabulary words”), personal (“I want to finish a chapter book on my own”), or even physical (“I want to master my bike skills”).

Help your child break larger goals into weekly mini-goals by talking through:

• What steps they’ll take
• How they will track their progress
• What they’ll do when they get stuck
• How you will support them 

These conversations foster independence and teach children how to set—and stick to—goals during the school year.

4. Encourage Curiosity and Exploration

Summer offers a chance to let curiosity take the lead, showing your child that explorative learning lies all around them. You can help your child enjoy the adventure of learning by:

• Exploring new subjects with documentaries, nature walks, or science kits
• Encouraging questions and looking up answers together
• Visiting museums, libraries, or local businesses to spark conversation

When children are encouraged to pose questions and make observations, they build critical thinking skills that are key to classroom engagement.

5. Build Emotional Readiness Through Social Interactions

A successful school year isn’t just about making good grades. It’s also about growing in confidence, communication, and social-emotional health.

Support your child’s emotional readiness by:

• Giving your child space to talk about worries or excitement for the new school year
• Encouraging them to practice advocating for themselves in safe settings (ordering at a restaurant, asking a librarian for help, etc.)
• Arranging playdates, camp days, or group activities to strengthen peer interaction skills

Children who feel emotionally stable and socially confident are more resilient, cooperative, and open to learning when they step into a classroom.

Let Best in Class help your child with a bit of summer prep before next year.

When kids build simple habits in the summer, they carry that sense of capability with them into the school year. By establishing routines, strengthening core skills, and creating safe spaces for exploration and growth, you’re setting the stage for a confident and enthusiastic return to the classroom.

At Best in Class Education Center, we support families in helping their students become more prepared and self-directed learners. Our summer and year-round programs reinforce academic fundamentals, foster a love of learning, and give students the tools they need for long-term success. See what your local center has to offer, and let’s partner in your child’s summer success together.