Preventing Summer Slide: Keep Your Kids Engaged with Lively Letters!

Progressive Pediatric Therapy • June 7, 2024
A chalkboard with the words school 's out for summer written on it

Summer is a time for fun, relaxation, and a well-deserved break from the school routine. However, it’s also important to keep your children’s minds active to prevent the dreaded “summer slide” – the loss of academic skills over the summer months. One effective way to combat this is through engaging and fun educational activities. Welcome to our overview of Lively Letters – the dynamic program revolutionizing how kids learn to read! 📚✨

What is Summer Slide?

The summer slide refers to the decline in reading and math skills that can occur when children are out of school for extended periods. Studies show that students can lose up to two months of reading skills during the summer. But don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to keep your child’s literacy skills sharp while they enjoy their summer vacation.

An illustration of a slide that says start of summer and end of summer

Introducing Lively Letters!

Lively Letters program offers an engaging and effective approach to literacy instruction designed for children of all ages and abilities. Lively Letters uses multi-sensory techniques to teach letter sounds, phonemic awareness, and decoding skills in a fun and interactive way. 

Check out this video to see Lively Letters in action!

Why Lively Letters?

  • Multi-Sensory Learning: Lively Letters combines visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles to help children understand and retain letter sounds and phonemic patterns. 
  • Engaging Characters: The program features colorful characters and lively activities that captivate young learners and make the process of learning to read enjoyable.
  • Tailored for All Levels: Whether your child is just starting to learn their letters or needs to reinforce their reading skills, Lively Letters is adaptable to various learning stages.

How Can You Use Lively Letters This Summer?

  1. Daily Practice: Set aside a few minutes each day for your child to engage with Lively Letters activities. Consistency is key in preventing summer slide.
  2. Interactive Games: Incorporate the characters and activities from Lively Letters into daily playtime. Kids learn best when they’re having fun!
  3. Family Involvement: Make it a family affair! Encourage siblings to play along and help each other with the activities.
A woman is reading a book to a young girl in a library.

Get Started Today!

We invite you to join the many families who are already benefiting from Lively Letters. Start your child on a path to reading success this summer with a program that’s as fun as it is educational. 

Preventing the summer slide doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With tools like Lively Letters, you can ensure that your child’s literacy skills remain sharp while they enjoy their summer break. Dive into the world of Lively Letters and discover how learning to read can be a magical and rewarding journey for your child.

Happy reading and have a wonderful summer!

PPT is committed to empowering children and families through specialized Physical, Occupational, Speech, and Feeding Therapy. With a compassionate team of pediatric therapists, PPT focuses on providing individualized care, enhancing development, and fostering hope and happiness in a supportive environment.

Curious if your child could benefit from our services? Contact us for an evaluation. For more parenting tips and tricks, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel . Share your own experiences in the comments below, or reach out if you have any questions!

Treadmill Training for Children With Cerebral Palsy: What Improved, What Didn't, and Why That Matters

By Aimee Brueck • September 4, 2026
Does treadmill training help children with cerebral palsy walk better? South Florida families trust Progressive Pediatric Therapy for expert pediatric physical therapy in South Florida. Our licensed therapists break down a 2025 randomized trial. Schedule an evaluation today.

Gestalt Language Processing and NLA: What Every Parent Should Know Before Starting Therapy

By Aimee Brueck • September 2, 2026
A 2025 peer-reviewed commentary examines the evidence behind Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and the NLA protocol. Progressive Pediatric Therapy breaks down the concerns, the common ground, and what it means for families in Palm Beach County.

Does Balance Training Actually Work for Kids With Developmental Delays? A 2026 Review of 22 Trials

August 28, 2026
Does balance training help children with developmental delays? South Florida families choose Progressive Pediatric Therapy for expert pediatric physical therapy in South Florida. Our licensed therapists explain a new 2026 meta-analysis of 22 trials. Schedule an evaluation today.

Supporting Premature Infants: Guidance for Families of Babies Born Early

By Aimee Brueck • August 28, 2026
When a baby arrives earlier than expected, the first weeks and months can bring both joy and uncertainty. Families often leave the NICU or hospital with important instructions — but also many questions about their baby’s development. Parents may find themselves wondering: “Should my baby be rolling, smiling, or eating more by now?” These questions are very common for families of premature infants. Many concerns fall into a gray area between needing formal therapy and simply needing expert reassurance and guidance. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Guiding Growth Program provides proactive developmental support for premature and medically complex infants — helping families understand their baby’s development while building confidence during the first year.

What Is the Long-Term Outlook for a Child With Severe Apraxia of Speech? What the 2026 Research Actually Says

By Aimee Brueck • August 26, 2026
What does apraxia of speech look like years from now? South Florida families trust Progressive Pediatric Therapy for pediatric speech therapy in South Florida. Our licensed speech-language pathologists break down the newest 2026 research. Schedule an evaluation today.

Guiding Growth in Your Baby’s First Year: Support for Every Milestone

By Aimee Brueck • August 25, 2026
The first year of a baby’s life is filled with rapid growth and change. From their first smiles and rolls to sitting, crawling, and early communication, each stage brings exciting milestones — and sometimes questions for parents. Many families find themselves wondering if their baby is developing as expected or if there’s something they should be doing to support the next stage. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Guiding Growth Program provides expert guidance for families during the first year of life, offering milestone monitoring, practical strategies, and reassurance as babies grow and develop.

The Power of the Pen: Why Cursive Handwriting Still Matters

By Aimee Brueck • August 21, 2026
In a world filled with screens, typing, and digital learning, handwriting — especially cursive — is becoming less common in many classrooms. Yet handwriting remains one of the most powerful tools for learning. Writing by hand connects movement, memory, and meaning in ways that typing simply cannot. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Cursive Handwriting Program helps children strengthen the physical and cognitive skills behind writing while rediscovering the joy of putting pen to paper.

Helping Kids Move with Confidence: Supporting Strength, Coordination, and Active Play

By Aimee Brueck • August 18, 2026
In today’s technology-driven world, many children are moving less than previous generations. While screens and busy schedules can make life easier in some ways, they also mean fewer opportunities for children to build the movement skills their bodies need. Parents often notice when movement feels harder for their child — whether it’s riding a bike, keeping up with peers, or participating in active play. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Movement Wellness Visit helps families understand how movement supports development and provides simple, realistic ways to build strength, coordination, and confidence through everyday play.

Understanding Your Child’s Movement and Sensory Style: Supporting Sensorimotor Development

By Aimee Brueck • August 14, 2026
Every child experiences the world in their own unique way. Some children love to climb, jump, and explore everything around them, while others prefer quieter activities or take longer to warm up to new types of play. For parents, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether these differences are simply personality or signs that a child may need extra support. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Sensorimotor Wellness Visit helps families better understand how their child moves, explores, and processes the world — while providing practical strategies to support healthy development through play and everyday routines.

Growing Up Bilingual: Supporting Language Development in Multilingual Families

By Aimee Brueck • August 4, 2026
Many families today raise children in homes where more than one language is spoken. While this is a wonderful gift, it can also bring questions and concerns about speech and language development. Parents often wonder if learning multiple languages will confuse their child or delay speech. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Bilingual Language Wellness Visit helps families understand what typical bilingual development looks like and provides practical strategies to nurture every language their child speaks with confidence.