Starting Grade 2 is an exciting milestone. By now, children have learned the foundations of reading, writing and mathematics in Grade 1. During Grade 2, the focus shifts from learning basic skills to using them confidently and independently.

Many parents wonder:

• Is my child ready for Grade 2?

• Should we do schoolwork during the summer?

• What skills are most important before school starts again?

The good news is that preparing for Grade 2 doesn't require hours of worksheets. In fact, educational research consistently shows that short, engaging practice sessions are far more effective than long study periods. Just 10 minutes a day through educational games can help children maintain their skills while still enjoying summer vacation.

What do children learn in Grade 2?

Although curricula vary slightly between the United States and Canada, Grade 2 students are generally expected to become more independent readers, writers and mathematicians.

By the beginning of Grade 2, most children should be able to:

• read simple texts with increasing fluency;

• understand what they read;

• write complete sentences;

• recognize and use numbers to at least 100;

• solve addition and subtraction problems;

• explain their thinking when solving problems.

Teachers spend the first weeks of school reviewing these essential skills before introducing new concepts.

Is it normal for children to forget things over the summer?

Absolutely.

Many parents worry when their child seems to have forgotten how to read certain words or solve simple math problems after several weeks away from school.

This is completely normal.

Memory researchers describe this as the forgetting curve: information that isn't used regularly becomes temporarily harder to retrieve. However, the knowledge is rarely lost.

Once children begin practicing again, previously learned skills usually return much faster than when they were first taught.

If you'd like to learn more about this process, read our article:

Why Do Children Forget So Much During Summer Break?

1. Reading fluency comes before reading comprehension

By Grade 2, children are no longer simply learning to read.

They are reading to learn.

The more automatic reading becomes, the more mental energy children can devote to understanding stories, solving problems and learning new vocabulary.

Simple activities can help maintain these skills during the summer:

• reading short stories;

• completing missing words;

• following written instructions;

• answering simple comprehension questions.

Our Reading Comprehension Fill-in-the-Blanks Activities make reading practice feel like a game while strengthening vocabulary and comprehension.

2. Continue developing handwriting and writing confidence

Writing remains an essential skill throughout elementary school.

Children who write more fluently often find it easier to express their ideas because they spend less effort forming letters.

Daily writing doesn't have to feel like homework.

Encourage your child to:

• write postcards;

• make shopping lists;

• keep a short vacation journal;

• label drawings;

• complete fun writing prompts.

Our Guided Handwriting – Everyday Words activities help children build writing confidence one word at a time.

3. Strengthen number sense

A strong understanding of numbers is one of the biggest predictors of future success in mathematics.

Before entering Grade 2, children should feel comfortable:

• reading numbers;

• writing numbers;

• comparing numbers;

• ordering numbers;

• understanding place value.

Rather than relying on repetitive drills, children learn more effectively when they manipulate numbers through games.

Our Numbers to 100 Activity Pack combines several printable games that help children practice number recognition, place value and logical thinking while having fun.

4. Practice addition and subtraction through play

Grade 2 introduces more efficient mental math strategies.

Children continue developing confidence with:

• addition;

• subtraction;

• number bonds;

• mental calculation;

• simple word problems.

Research in cognitive psychology shows that distributed practice (short sessions repeated over time) leads to better long-term retention than cramming.

Our Addition & Subtraction Games Pack makes daily review quick, varied and enjoyable.

5. Encourage logical thinking—not just memorization

Success in Grade 2 isn't only about knowing the correct answer.

Children also learn to:

• observe patterns;

• compare ideas;

• explain their reasoning;

• solve increasingly complex problems.

Educational games naturally encourage these higher-order thinking skills because children must make decisions, test strategies and adapt their thinking.

Why educational games work so well

Modern neuroscience has shown that children learn best when they are:

• actively engaged;

• emotionally involved;

• motivated;

• able to repeat skills in different contexts.

Games naturally combine all of these elements.

Instead of completing page after page of repetitive exercises, children practice the same academic skills while remaining curious and motivated.

That's exactly the philosophy behind PrintiKids: learning through play.

A simple 10-minute summer routine

Preparing for Grade 2 doesn't require expensive workbooks or strict schedules.

Try this simple weekly routine:

Monday

A numbers game.

Tuesday

A handwriting activity.

Wednesday

Reading comprehension.

Thursday

Addition or subtraction games.

Friday

A logic or vocabulary activity.

Ten minutes is often enough to keep children's brains active without taking away from summer fun.

Learning a second language in elementary school

Elementary school is also an excellent time to introduce another language.

Young children naturally associate words with images and quickly build vocabulary through repeated exposure.

Rather than memorizing long word lists, visual matching activities help children understand and remember new vocabulary more effectively.

Our French–English Bilingual Activities Collection allows children to match words and pictures while developing reading skills, visual memory and vocabulary in both languages.

French is spoken by more than 320 million people worldwide and is an official language in nearly 30 countries, making it one of the world's most valuable languages to learn.

What parents should avoid

Many parents unintentionally make summer learning harder than necessary.

Instead of:

• completing large workbooks every day;

• forcing long study sessions;

• correcting every small mistake immediately;

focus on maintaining confidence and curiosity.

A child who enjoys learning will almost always make greater long-term progress than a child who feels pressured.

Final thoughts

Getting ready for Grade 2 isn't about mastering every skill perfectly before the first day of school.

It's about helping children keep their confidence and strengthen the foundations they'll continue building throughout the year.

Reading, writing, number sense and basic calculation can all be reinforced through short, enjoyable activities that fit naturally into everyday family life.

With just a few minutes of playful learning each day, children can return to school feeling confident, motivated and ready for new challenges.

You may also enjoy

• 10 Printable Educational Games for Grade 1

• Why Do Children Forget So Much During Summer Break?

• How to Prepare Your Child for First Grade?

Vous préférez lire cet article en français ?

Retrouvez la version française ici : Entrée en CE1 : quelles notions revoir avant la rentrée ? (Guide complet pour les parents)