Are Workbooks and Tutoring Enough? How to Build Thinking Skills This Summer
When summer break rolls around, many parents worry about “summer slide”—the loss of academic progress over the long break from school. It’s common to turn to workbooks, online learning platforms, and even tutoring to keep kids sharp. But while these tools can help with review and retention, they often miss a critical piece of the learning puzzle: the brain’s core cognitive skills.
👉If your child has ever known the material but still struggled to complete homework, follow instructions, or test well, then you’ve already seen the limits of traditional academic practice. That’s because learning isn’t just about what we know—it’s about how our brain processes, stores, and uses that information.
Why Workbooks and Tutoring Fall Short
Workbooks and tutoring tend to focus on what kids are learning: math facts, vocabulary words, or reading comprehension strategies. But if your child has weak cognitive skills—like memory, attention, processing speed, or reasoning—they might continue to struggle, even with repeated practice.
Let’s say your child struggles in math. A tutor might help them practice long division, but if your child has poor working memory or slow processing speed, those problems will persist no matter how many times they go over the material. They need more than repetition—they need to strengthen the brain skills that make learning easier.
What Are Cognitive Skills?
Cognitive skills are the core mental capabilities that make learning possible. They include:
- Attention (sustained, selective, and divided)
- Memory (short-term, or working, as well as long-term)
- Processing Speed
- Logic & Reasoning
- Auditory and Visual Processing
These skills are like the “engine” behind learning. When they’re strong, kids can focus better, grasp new concepts faster, and retain what they learn. When they’re weak, even bright students can struggle.
Read More: Signs of Weak Cognitive Skills in Struggling Students >>
How to Strengthen Cognitive Skills This Summer
The good news? Cognitive skills aren’t fixed. Just like muscles, they can be strengthened with the right kind of exercise.
Here’s how to go beyond workbooks and build better thinkers this summer:
1. Incorporate Brain Training
Unlike tutoring, which re-teaches school content, brain training targets the root cause of learning struggles by strengthening the brain’s ability to learn and perform. At LearningRx, we work one-on-one with students using fun, challenging mental exercises designed to improve attention, memory, processing speed, and more.
Research shows that brain training can lead to significant and lasting improvements in cognitive performance—even in kids who previously struggled with reading, math, or focus.*
2. Choose Games That Build Skills
Board games can engage logic, visual processing, and working memory in a fun and exciting way. Just 20 minutes a day can make a difference—especially when you play together and talk through strategies. Here are a few lists of our favorites:
- 10 Family Game Night Favorites That Also Strengthen Brain Skills
- Great Games for Kids with ADHD
- 7 Math Games That Are Actually Fun
- Fun Games to Build Memory Skills
- Games to Build Logic & Critical Thinking Skills
- Think Fast: Games to Build Processing Speed
3. Make Thinking a Daily Habit
Encourage your child to explain their reasoning when solving a problem, making a decision, or reading a story. Ask open-ended questions like, “What made you choose that answer?” or “What would happen if…?” These conversations build metacognition—thinking about thinking—which strengthens reasoning and comprehension skills.
4. Get Moving
Physical activity, especially exercises that cross the midline (like dance, martial arts, or swimming), can support brain development. Movement helps with focus and coordination—and studies show it can even boost working memory and attention.
Summer Is the Perfect Time to Train the Brain
If your child struggled this past school year—or if you simply want them to hit the ground running in the fall—now is the time to act. Cognitive skills form the foundation for all learning. Strengthening those skills over the summer can lead to better grades, greater confidence, and a smoother school year ahead.
At LearningRx, we help kids (and adults) strengthen the brain skills that matter most for learning, reading, and life. Our one-on-one brain training programs are personalized, research-backed, and even fun! Let’s build better learners this summer—together.
Schedule a Cognitive Skills Assessment today to learn where your child’s strengths and weaknesses lie—and how we can help.
*Results from surveys and studies of past clients. You or your loved ones may or may not achieve the same outcomes, but you can read more about our research and results here.
