9 Tips To Keep Your Child Reading This Summer

For most children, summer vacation is a time for staying up late, sleeping in, playing video games for hours each day, and doing as much of “nothing” as is humanly possible!

Students often put off reading for too long and end up trying to read everything within  two weeks before the first day of the new school year. Parents should be sure their children are not falling into the depths of summer vacation and experiencing “summer slide”. Extensive research has been done, and the results conclude that children who read on a regular basis during the summer can improve their reading level and fluency. Lack of or no reading during the summer can make a student’s transition to the next grade level somewhat difficult. So, why not find creative ways to get your child engaged in reading during summer vacation? It can only help! 

Here are some tips regarding how to help your child become committed to reading during the summer and school year as well.

1. Schedule weekly trips to the library (virtually at the moment)
2. Let your child select reading material that interests them (some may already have required summer reading, so free choice is a good thing..they will be more receptive to reading if they feel they have control over what they read)
3. Read to/with your child (if they are a beginning reader). You can also let beginning readers experience print media on their own sometimes (e.g them looking at and flipping pages). Early exposure is important
4. For young/emerging readers attend story hour at the local library (these are currently being done virtually). For older readers, attend virtual readings.
5. Virtually attend “meet the author events” (often times the author will stay for a Q&A session).
6. Encourage your child to read in bed (let them stay up late sometimes if they agree to read in bed).
7. Use reading as a bedtime routine. For younger readers, use a predetermined number of pages or a chapter each night.
8. Have your child do a creative book report on a book or books they read during the summer. There are many formats that are creative and fun without the use of a computer. Click here for ideas to get you started or think of your own original idea for presenting a book report
9. Most of all, be a model reader. Always read in front of your child and encourage them to read any/everything.