5 Strategies to Help Your Child Love Reading This Summer
How to Beat Summer Slide and Unlock the Magic of Books
It’s almost summer. Children have been counting down to the return of sunshine, swimming, and endless days spent playing with friends. But as kids prepare to slide into summer break, parents are more concerned about the infamous summer slide. Summer slide refers to the learning loss that students experience between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. Research has shown that the average student loses 17–34% of the prior year’s learning gains during summer break. Sadly, students who lose ground in one summer are more likely to do so in subsequent summers, negatively compounding the effects of the summer slide.
Researchers haven’t quite quantified the exact causes of the summer slide, but one thing is certain: students aren’t reading for fun anymore. This recent change in recreational reading habits has far-reaching consequences. In fact, students who reported reading for fun regularly are proven to perform better in the classroom. Parents are understandably concerned when their children habitually pick up an iPad over a good book, but there are solutions. Read on to understand key factors that influence kids’ reading habits (or lack thereof), as well as five easy-to-implement strategies to help your children develop a love of reading.
Summer Slide Culprits: Identifying Factors that Deter Reading
Children often view summer as their rightful season “off” from academic obligations. On top of that, family schedules in the summer can be complex without the routines of the school year. Several factors play into the decline of summer reading habits, including vacations, summer camps, and screen time distractions. Mandatory reading lists imposed by schools can also contribute to a lack of enthusiasm, turning reading into a chore rather than a pastime. These things often overshadow the joys of diving into a good book.
It’s critical to address this issue for children’s overall development. Reading for pleasure not only enhances literacy skills but fosters creativity, boosts critical thinking, and develops empathy. By encouraging summer reading, we provide children with opportunities to explore new worlds, expand their knowledge, and develop a lifelong love for learning. Nurturing a habit of reading during the summer months builds important life skills and lays a strong foundation for academic success.
Overcoming Summer Reading Resistance
The good news is that, with some planning and intentionality, parents and caregivers can help their kids overcome summer reading challenges. To successfully tackle resistance or disinterest in reading, it’s critical to give kids choices. By inviting them to choose the time, place, and titles, you quickly increase buy-in. Talk to children about their preferences. This gives them a sense of agency and can make them more open-minded.
It’s also important to limit screen time, which is many children’s primary form of entertainment and reading’s biggest rival. Balancing screen time with reading activities involves setting clear boundaries and creating designated times for both. Screen time isn’t the enemy, but it should be used as an occasional tool, not the default activity.
Also important to keep in mind is that different age groups require different strategies. Note the unique needs and preferences of younger children as compared to adolescents. Parents can empower youth of any age to embrace the joy of reading with the right mindset and strategies.
5 Strategies (and 20 Fun Ideas!) to Help Your Child Love Reading This Summer
1) Establish Reading Rituals
Establishing reading rituals allows reading to become an everyday habit. As these routines become ingrained in daily life, children naturally gravitate towards reading for learning, fun, and comfort.
- Routine: Whether it’s before bedtime or during quiet afternoons, consistency fosters a sense of expectation and comfort around reading.
- Environment: Designate a cozy corner or nook with comfortable seating (affiliate link) and good lighting. This creates a sense of comfort and focus, setting the right tone to read.
- Real-life reading: Combining reading into everyday activities seamlessly integrates literacy into your child’s life. This can be as simple as reading recipes while cooking or exploring nature through books during outdoor walks. Such activities not only make reading enjoyable but also demonstrate its relevance in everyday context.
- Library visits: Not only are they free, but library visits expose children to a vast array of books and encourage exploration. The excitement of selecting new books creates a sense of ownership and curiosity, further nurturing a love for reading.
2) Make Reading Exciting
Excitement and anticipation are a sure-fire way to get kids interested in an activity. By infusing reading with games, activities, and engaging experiences, children are drawn into the magical world of books.
- Games & scavenger hunts: Introduce story-related challenges or treasure hunts that encourage children to explore the pages of their books. By turning reading into a competitive quest, they’ll develop a sense of suspense for each new chapter.
- Crafts: Crafts provide a hands-on approach to literature, allowing kids to bring characters and settings to life. Children can craft a character mask, design a story-themed diorama, or make a map of a fantasy world. When creativity intertwines with reading, it deepens understanding and connection.
- Experiences: Creating memorable experiences tied to reading, like storytelling “campouts” or poetry tea time, adds a layer of fun and novelty. These exciting events immerse children in the magic of stories, making reading a cherished part of their lives.
- Mystery reading boxes: By presenting books wrapped in secrecy, children eagerly unwrap the mystery and explore unknown worlds. Mystery reading boxes add an element of surprise and anticipation, sparking kids’ curiosity and excitement for reading.
3) Explore the World Through Books
Use some of those long summer days to discover more about the world through books. Making real-life connections between books and the world greatly enriches children’s summer experiences and broadens their perspectives.
- In-person field trips: Going to book-related museums, historical sites, or natural landmarks brings stories to life, making reading a tangible and immersive experience.
- Virtual field trips: Virtual field trips provide cost-effective access to distant places and historical periods, like famous tourist sites, museums, or literary festivals.
- Storytime theater: Storytime theater brings books to life through dramatic readings, puppet shows (affiliate link), or interactive performances.
- Book-themed movie nights: Book-themed movie nights provide a fun way to compare and contrast literary adaptations. From Harry Potter to Matilda, Charlotte’s Web to Stuart Little, there are many family-friendly options to choose from!
4) Build a Reading Community
For reluctant readers, having friends join in can make all of the difference. Building a reading community strengthens friendships and develops a sense of camaraderie, creating a supportive environment where children can share their reading experiences, recommendations, and achievements with friends.
- Traditional book clubs: Traditional book clubs provide a platform for children to discuss and share their thoughts on books with each other. Invite readers to take turns selecting books. This builds investment, ownership, and exposes kids to books they may not have otherwise chosen.
- Silent book clubs: Silent book clubs offer a relaxed atmosphere where participants read quietly together. This creates a relaxing environment where kids can read together but allows them to choose a text that they prefer.
- Book swap clubs: Book swap clubs encourage children to exchange books they’ve already read for new ones. This promotes a sense of ownership and enthusiasm for sharing personal favorites and discovering new ones.
- Themed book clubs: Themed book clubs allow children to explore their interests collaboratively. Choosing a popular series, like Magic Tree House, Elephant and Piggie, or The Bad Guys (affiliate links), can make it easy to get kids to participate in the book club.
5) Create Incentives and Challenges
Implementing incentive-based strategies can motivate children to engage with books actively. These incentives and challenges encourage children to explore new genres and authors. They also instill a sense of accomplishment and pride as they progress through their reading goals.
- Reading BINGO: Reading BINGO (affiliate link) offers a fun and interactive way to encourage the exploration of different genres, themes, or challenges. Turn reading into a game to encourage even the most reluctant reader to participate.
- Book passports: Book passports (affiliate link) provide a passport-like booklet where children can “stamp” or record each book they read. This creates a sense of accomplishment and adventure as they journey through various literary worlds.
- Reading Olympics: Reading Olympics sets up a friendly competition where children can earn points for reaching reading milestones. Awarding prizes at the end can promote a sense of achievement and healthy rivalry among peers.
- Challenge charts: Challenge charts (affiliate link) outline specific reading goals or tasks, such as reading a certain number of books or exploring new genres. This empowers children to set and achieve their own reading goals while earning rewards along the way.
The Benefits of Fostering a Reading-Rich Environment
Fostering a reading-rich household provides benefits that extend far beyond the act of reading. Academically, children raised in these environments tend to excel in school due to their advanced vocabulary, comprehension skills, and broader background knowledge base.
A study that compared the amount of time a child spent reading with their scores on academic tests found that the number of minutes spent in out-of-school reading, even if it was a small amount, correlated positively with reading achievement. Frequent exposure to diverse literary works nurtures critical thinking abilities and fosters imagination. This equips children with invaluable tools for navigating the complexities of the world. Children encouraged to explore diverse texts develop analytical skills and creativity, preparing them for challenges beyond the classroom.
Even more significantly, shared reading experiences strengthen the bonds between parents and children. Through shared reading experiences, families cultivate deeper emotional relationships and mutual understanding, thereby enhancing communication and creating connections between you and your child.
Four Keys to Making Summer Reading a Success
To make summer reading a success, keep in mind several key factors.
- Choice: Prioritizing children’s choice empowers them to select texts aligned with their interests. This fosters a genuine enthusiasm for reading because they have the power to choose.
- Accessibility: Use resources like the library and digital access to texts in various formats, like audiobooks and ebooks. Libby is your free gateway into your local library’s digital collection.
- Modeling: Children often imitate behaviors observed at home. When parents demonstrate enjoyment and commitment to reading, children are more likely to follow suit.
- Fun: The most pivotal aspect is infusing fun into the reading experience. By enlisting the strategies outlined above, you can transform reading from a chore into a cherished pastime.
Tailoring the Approach: Customizing Strategies for Lasting Impact
Nurturing children’s love of reading requires a tailored approach that considers each child’s unique preferences and interests. Consider their favorite genres, hobbies, and subjects and be sure to remain flexible in your approach. Make a plan to integrate your child’s preferred interests into your reading routines and activities. By customizing these strategies to suit your child’s preferences, you can effectively nurture a lifelong love for reading. This makes the summer months not just a break from school, but a time full of exploration and joy through books.
Stay connected with us as we continue to provide valuable insights and resources to support your child’s reading journey. Together, let’s make this summer a season of discovery, imagination, and endless adventures.
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