Three months without practice and the vocabulary I've gathered all year is starting to fade. But summer can be structured differently.
Why is summer particularly dangerous for the tongue
The academic year provides some structure. Lessons, a schedule, regular contact with the language. In the summer, this disappears. The child is completely immersed in the English-speaking environment: camp, friends, games, streaming, everything in English, from morning to night.
Research shows that children can lose up to several months of progress in language and reading over the summer without practice. This is especially noticeable for bilingual children: Russian already requires support, and three months of silence can undo all the progress made throughout the year.
Good news: keeping up with Russian in the summer is easier than it seems. You don't need to turn vacation into studying. You just need to integrate Russian into what your child will already be doing.
Movies and TV shows: works while the child is resting
In the summer, children watch more. That's a fact that's pointless to fight. It's better to channel it.
Here's a list of Russian-language content tailored to a child's age and interests. For younger children, consider: * Soviet animated films * «Masha and the Bear» * «The Fixies» * Modern fairy tales with good voice acting For older children, suitable options include: * Teenage series in Russian * Documentaries about nature or history * YouTube channels based on interests like cooking, science, or gaming.
It's not necessary to watch only Russian content. You can switch the language on content that's already familiar: a favorite cartoon or series that a child has seen in English is easier to understand in Russian because the plot is already known.
Books: not a required reading list, but what's interesting
Summer reading only works when the child chooses the book themselves. Not you choosing for them, not a list from the internet about «best books for bilinguals,» but them, based on the cover, the first few pages, or the topic.
Go together to a Russian bookstore or order a few books online and let them choose. For children who are still slow readers, this is good they work Comics and graphic novels in Russian: less text, higher engagement. The main thing is not to correct a child's choice to «something more useful.» The more they like the story, the higher the chance they will read it to the end at all.
Audiobooks are a separate tool. In the car, before bed, with headphones during a walk. A child isn't reading, they're listening, and that's also a full interaction with the language.
Camps and trips: a living environment is better than any lesson
If there's an opportunity, a Russian-speaking summer camp becomes one of the most effective language tools. Not because they teach, but because they speak there. All day, from morning to evening, with other children. The motivation is completely different than in a lesson.
Russian-speaking camps are available in different states; search through local Russian-speaking communities on Facebook or through acquaintances.
A trip to grandma and grandpa, if possible, works the same way: complete immersion in a Russian-speaking environment without any coercion. The child speaks Russian simply because otherwise, they won't be understood.
Simple daily habits that maintain language
You don't need to build a whole program. A few small things that fit into the summer rhythm are enough.
- One new song or poem a week: learn together, sing in the car or before bed.
- Correspondence with Russian-speaking relatives or friends. Voice messages also count.
- Fifteen minutes of Russian-language content per day. A cartoon, video, podcast – anything. What matters is consistency, not quantity.
- Russian board or card games: «Uno» with Russian rules, «Krokodil», «Alias» in Russian.
- Cooking with Russian Recipes: Reading the recipe aloud, naming ingredients, discussing the steps.
None of these things look like studying. They all work.
Summer Intensive at Palme School
If you want summer to not just keep you afloat, but also allow for significant progress, at Palme School There is a summer intensive A Russian language program for bilingual children. It's a short, time-limited summer program that helps boost a child's speech, vocabulary, and confidence in 2–3 months.
The classes are structured for a summer rhythm: no pressure, in small age-based groups, with an emphasis on lively interaction. During lessons, children discuss topics relevant to them, play, and complete mini-projects, while grammar and reading are woven into practice rather than presented as a «separate school subject.».
Unlike regular classes during the academic year, the summer intensive offers a dense, structured course specifically for the holidays: regular meetings, a clear goal, and measurable results by the end of summer.
Spots fill up in advance because summer starts sooner than you think. If you want your child to be placed in a group suitable for their age and level, it's best to sign up in advance and book a time that fits into your summer plans.
