Summer vacation facts for kids

Summer vacation or summer break is a long school break in summer. It happens between school years. Students usually get about eight or nine weeks off. The exact dates can change depending on the country and even the school district.

In the United States, summer break is often around three and a half months long. Students usually finish school in late May or June. They start the new school year in August or early September. In countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Russia, the summer break is normally three months. But in places like Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, it's shorter, usually three to six weeks.

Why We Have Summer Break

People have different ideas about summer vacation. Some worry about "Summer learning loss" or "summer slide." This means students might forget some things they learned because of the long break. But we don't fully know how much this happens.

Others believe breaks are important. They say kids need time away from school stresses. These can include peer pressure, cliques, bullying, and lots of homework. A break helps students relax and recharge.

Summer Break Around the World

Argentina

In Argentina, the school year ends in early or mid-December. It starts again in late February or early March. This gives students a long summer break. Most students also get two weeks off in winter, usually in July or early August.

Australia

In Australia, summer is from December to February. School holidays usually last about six weeks. They go from mid-December to late January. This is shorter than in North America. But Australian schools also have two-week breaks in April, June, and September. This gives students a total of twelve weeks of holidays each year.

Austria

In Austria, summer vacation lasts nine weeks. School usually ends in early July and starts in early September.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, summer vacation is about four weeks. It starts in mid-May and ends in mid-June. Sometimes, the holiday during Ramadan is also called summer vacation. Summer is when fruits like mangoes and jackfruits are ready. So, the break is sometimes called "mango-jackfruit's holiday."

Belgium

In Belgium, summer vacation generally lasts from July 1 to September 1, which is two months.

Bolivia

In Bolivia, summer vacation runs from early December to early February, lasting two months.

Brazil

In Brazil, summer holidays can be different depending on the region and school. They usually last between 45 and 60 days. This is from late November or early December to late January or early February. Most students also get two to four weeks off in July for winter.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, the summer break length depends on the student's grade level:

• Grades 1-3: May 31 – September 15
• Grades 4-6: June 15 – September 15
• Grades 7-11: June 30 – September 15
• Grade 12: School year ends in mid-May.

Canada

In Canada, summer vacation for public schools starts on the last Saturday in June. It ends on Labour Day (the first Monday in September). Students can get two to three months of summer vacation, depending on the province.

Chile

In Chile, summer vacation lasts from early or mid-December until late February or early March. This is about 11 or 12 weeks.

China

In the People's Republic of China, summer holidays start in early July and often end in early September, lasting two months.

Colombia

In Colombia, summer vacation varies. Some schools have a break between June and July. Other schools have a long vacation in July and August. This is because Colombia has different climates in different regions.

Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, summer vacation usually starts in late December and ends in early February, lasting two months.

Croatia

In Croatia, the school year finishes around June 20. It usually starts on the first Monday of September.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, summer holiday begins on July 1 and ends on August 31, lasting two months.

Denmark

In Denmark, summer break lasts about six weeks. It goes from the end of June to early or mid-August.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, summer vacation dates depend on the region. In the coastal areas, vacation is in January or February. In the Sierra region, it follows the pattern of July and August.

Egypt

In Egypt, summer break lasts about three months (14 weeks) in public schools. It goes from early or mid-June to mid-September. Private schools have a slightly shorter break, about two and a half months.

Estonia

In Estonia, summer holidays start in early June. The exact date can be different for different grades. School always begins on September 1.

Finland

In Finland, summer vacation starts in late May or early June. It lasts for two to two and a half months. School usually starts again between August 7 and 18.

France

In France, summer vacation usually covers July and August, lasting two months. High school students often finish in mid-June because of exams.

Germany

In Germany, summer vacation lasts six to six and a half weeks. The exact dates change by state and year. It can be from mid-June to late July, or late July to early September. Germany also has other holidays like winter, Easter, autumn, and Christmas breaks.

Greece

In Greece, summer vacation lasts for three months. Schools close on June 15 and reopen on September 11.

Guatemala

In Guatemala, summer holidays start in mid-October and end in early January, lasting about 12 weeks.

Guyana

In Guyana, summer holidays start in early July and end in early September, lasting two months.

Hungary

In Hungary, summer vacation usually lasts from mid-June (around the 15th) to early September. This is about 11 or 12 weeks.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, summer vacation normally begins in mid-July and ends in late August. This is about six to seven weeks for most public schools.

Iceland

In Iceland, students typically start summer vacation during the first week of June. They return to school in the fourth week of August.

India

India has many different climates, so summer vacation times vary a lot:

• Northern India: Mid-May to early July. In the Himalayan regions, summer breaks are short, but winter breaks are much longer.
• Central India: Mid-April to mid-June.
• Southern India: Late March or early April to early or mid-June.
• North-eastern states: May to June.

Indian schools also have other holidays like Diwali, Dusshera, and Christmas.

Iran

In Iran, summer vacation lasts three months. Schools close in mid-June and reopen in late September. However, many private high schools require students to attend for about two months during the summer.

Iraq

In Iraq, summer vacation begins in late May and ends in late September. For 12th-grade students, it starts in late June and ends in mid-October.

Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, most secondary schools start summer holidays in late May or early June. Primary schools start their summer holiday in late June and return in the first week of September.

Israel

Summer vacation for middle and high school students starts on June 21 and ends on August 31 (two months and 10 days). For primary school students, it starts on July 1 and ends on August 31 (two months).

Italy

In Italy, summer vacation for elementary, middle, and high schools usually starts in the second week of June. It lasts until the second week of September, about three months.

Jamaica

In Jamaica, summer holidays for primary and secondary schools start in the first week of July and end in the first week of September. This is about eight weeks.

Japan

In Japan, summer vacation generally lasts from late July to early September. It happens within the school year.

Jordan

In Jordan, summer vacation lasts three months. Most schools take their break from mid-June to mid-September.

Kuwait

In Kuwait, summer vacation for elementary and middle schools starts in late May or early June. It ends in early to late September. For high school students, it starts around June 19–20.

Latvia

In Latvia, summer vacation lasts three months. It starts on June 1 and ends on August 31. The new school year begins the next day.

Lebanon

In Lebanon, summer vacation lasts almost three months. Most schools take their break from mid-June to early or mid-September.

Libya

In Libya, summer break lasts about three months (14 weeks). It goes from early or mid-June to mid-September.

Lithuania

In Lithuania, summer vacation starts around June 21 and ends on September 1. This is about two and a half months.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, summer vacation starts on July 16 and ends on September 15, lasting two months. They also have other smaller breaks throughout the year.

North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, summer vacation starts on June 10 and ends on September 1 for all schools.

Malta

In Malta, summer holidays usually last from late June until late September, which is three months.

Moldova

In Moldova, summer vacation begins on June 1 and ends on September 1, lasting three months.

Morocco

In Morocco, summer vacation lasts from June 20 until early September, which is two months.

Mexico

In Mexico, summer vacation starts in early July and finishes in mid-August. High school and college students often have two months of vacation, from late May or early June to early August.

Mongolia

In Mongolia, summer vacation usually starts in late May or early June and lasts until the end of August.

Nepal

In Nepal, summer vacation runs from late May to late June.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, summer vacation is about six weeks for primary and high schools. It usually goes from mid-July to late August.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, school holidays typically start in early or mid-December and end in late January or early February. This is usually six to eight weeks. Older students finish earlier for study leave and exams.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, primary and secondary schools usually start summer vacation in mid-July and resume in early September. This is the longest break, often called the "3rd-term holiday," lasting up to two months.

Norway

In Norway, summer vacation typically lasts from mid-June to mid-August, for a minimum of eight weeks.

Oman

In Oman, summer vacation starts in late May and ends in early September, lasting three months.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, summer vacation lasts for two to three months. It is typically from late May to mid-August.

Panama

In Panama, summer vacation starts in early December and ends in late February, lasting three months.

Paraguay

In Paraguay, summer holidays start in December and end in late February, lasting two months.

Philippines

In the Philippines, summer holidays for most schools typically start in the third week of March and end in the first to third week of June. This matches the country's dry season. The school year begins in the first week of June, at the start of the wet season.

Poland

In Poland, summer vacation starts on the first Friday after June 20. It ends on the first weekday of September (unless it's a Friday or Saturday).

Portugal

In Portugal, summer vacation starts in mid-June and finishes in mid-September. Some students have exams in late June and July.

Russia

In Russia, summer vacation starts on May 25 and ends on September 1. For students in 9th and 11th grades, the vacation starts later in June due to exams.

Romania

In Romania, summer vacation usually starts on June 14 and ends on the second Sunday in September, lasting three months.

Saint Lucia

In Saint Lucia, summer vacation starts in early July and ends on the first Monday of September, lasting eight weeks.

Saudi Arabia

The summer break for Saudi Arabian students is generally from mid-May until the end of August.

Serbia

In Serbia, summer vacation starts around the end of June and ends on August 31. School officially starts on the first working day of September.

Slovakia

In Slovakia, summer break lasts from July 1 until September 1, which is two months.

Slovenia

In Slovenia, the last day of school is June 24, and school resumes on September 1.

South Africa

In South Africa, summer holidays usually begin in early December and end in mid-January.

South Korea

In South Korea, summer vacation starts in mid-July and ends in mid-August or late August. This vacation happens within a school year.

South Sudan

In South Sudan, summer vacation starts on December 20 and ends on March 19.

Spain

In Spain, the school year finishes in mid or late June and begins in mid-September. Vacation times vary by region.

Suriname

In Suriname, summer vacation usually starts in mid-August and ends in early October.

Sweden

In Sweden, summer vacation is between the spring and autumn terms. It normally lasts for about 10 weeks. It starts the week before midsummer and ends in mid-August.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, summer vacation dates vary in each canton. For example, in Zürich, it lasts five weeks. In Ticino, it lasts about ten weeks.

Syria

In Syria, summer vacation lasts three months. It starts mid-June for primary and secondary schools and ends mid-September. University students have a vacation from early July to early October.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, summer vacation starts in early July (late June for university students) and ends in late August (mid-September for university students).

Thailand

In Thailand, summer vacation begins in late February to early March and ends in mid-May.

Trinidad and Tobago

Primary and secondary schools close on the first Friday of July and open on the first Monday of September. This gives students two months off.

Turkey

In Turkey, summer vacation starts in mid-June and ends in mid-September, lasting three months.

Tunisia

In Tunisia, summer vacation for middle and high school starts on May 30 and ends on September 15. Primary schools are off from June 1 to September 15.

United Arab Emirates

In the UAE, summer vacation formally begins in early July. All schools are closed in July and August. Students usually get a seven-week break in summer.

United Kingdom

• England and Wales: Summer holidays for state schools usually last from late July to early September, about six or seven weeks.
• Scotland: School summer holidays start in late June and last for about six or seven weeks. Most schools return around mid-August.
• Northern Ireland: Most school summer holidays start in late June and run until early September.

Private schools often have longer holidays, sometimes eight to ten weeks in summer.

United States

The dates for summer vacation vary by school district. Most schools in the Northeastern United States end in June and start after Labor Day in September. In the Southern United States, schools often end in May and start again in August.

The idea of a long summer break became common in the 1800s. Back then, it was hard to keep school buildings cool in summer. Also, many families, especially wealthier ones, would leave cities for cooler places during hot months. This meant fewer students were in school.

School leaders also thought that students and teachers needed time to rest their brains. They believed too much learning in hot weather could be bad for health. The long summer break was a way for everyone to relax and recover. Teachers would also use this time for their own learning.

Some people think summer holidays started because children were needed to help with farm work. But this is not true. Most crops were planted in spring and harvested in fall, not during the summer break.

Uruguay

In Uruguay, summer holidays usually begin in early December and finish on March 1.

Venezuela

In Venezuela, summer holidays begin in late June or early July and end in late September or early October.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, summer holidays usually begin in late May or early June and last for two months.