Children and young people can lose up to six months of learning if they don't practice during the holidays

Guatemala, November 2025 - Vacations are a time eagerly awaited by children and young people, but they can also represent a challenge for some parents, as they face the challenge of keeping their children's study habits active, such as the consistency, perseverance and discipline they have acquired during the year and which are important to maintain so that their children can achieve their future goals.

According to education specialists, students can lose up to six months of academic progress if they do not continue practicing key skills such as math, English, or reading during this academic break.

According to the results of the UNESCO Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study (ERCE), nearly 60% of sixth-grade students in Latin America and the Caribbean did not reach the minimum levels of competence in reading or mathematics, which highlights the need to reinforce study habits and continuous practice, especially during vacation periods (UNESCO, 2021) ¹.

This phenomenon, known as academic regression during the holidays, occurs when children and young people interrupt their learning for an extended period. Upon returning to school, many must relearn previously mastered material, which can affect their confidence, performance, and motivation.

“Learning is like a muscle: if you don’t exercise it, it loses strength. That’s why it’s important for children to maintain small daily study habits using KUMON materials, even during vacations. Consistent practice is what keeps the brain strong and flexible to continue learning,” explains Odeth González, Kumon Franchise Consultant in Mexico and Central America.

The risk lies not only in forgetting content, but also in losing hard-won cognitive skills such as concentration, memory, problem-solving, reaction time, reading comprehension, as well as vocabulary and fluency in English. These skills, without consistent practice, weaken and may require more reinforcement time at the start of the new school year.

Learning can also be fun

Maintaining active learning doesn't mean studying for long hours. Short, consistent activities like reading a book, solving exercises in another language, or practicing mental math for a few minutes a day are enough to keep you on track. The Kumon Method, focused on fostering autonomy, discipline, and consistency, allows students to progress at their own pace and enjoy the learning process with exercises that take no more than 30 minutes a day. These exercises are assigned according to an individualized plan tailored to each student's abilities and learning pace, ensuring they enjoy the experience.

“When learning becomes a daily habit, children not only avoid academic setbacks, but also begin the new school year with greater confidence and motivation,” concludes Odeth González.

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About Kumon®

Kumon is a Japanese learning method with over 60 years of history, present in more than 60 countries, including Guatemala since March 2023. Kumon is designed to help students of any age and ability progress to reach their full potential and develop their enthusiasm for learning. Through physical or virtual study sheets, and with the help of an instructor, a team of assistants, and parental encouragement, students work at the most appropriate level to develop their abilities and gain fluency in small, manageable steps.

In Guatemala, it has five centers: “Las Américas” Building Américas 10 Zone 13, Plaza “Villaflor” on the road to El Salvador, Décimo de “Cayalá” Zone 16, Plaza Perisur “Zone 11” and Atlantis Building “Zone 10”. Franchises are available in San Cristóbal, El Naranjo and Quetzaltenango.

If you're interested in learning more about Kumon, visit: www.kumon.com Kumon Center Locations in Guatemala: https://www.kumon.com/gt-es/locations Facebook and Instagram: @kumonguatemala

Press contact: Gaby Aguirre | gaby@prevolucion.com | 33843011 Ciny Monzón | ciny@prevolucion.com | 5995 4556