How to Keep Kids Reading Over the Summer Break
There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being a kid on summer break. Warmer days open doors to new adventures, and the possibilities are seemingly endless. However, for all its open-ended delight, summer is also a time that can lead to a phenomenon called the “Summer Slide”—when children lose educational gains they made throughout the year, particularly in areas like reading and math. In a study published in 2020, researchers found that more than half of students studied lost reading progress during every summer over a five-year period.
If you’re looking for some ways to keep your child reading over the summer, there are a multitude of ways you can combat the Summer Slide—research has shown that reading even just five books over the summer can prevent a loss in literacy skills.
To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of ideas you can use to encourage your child to read and keep the summer slide at bay.
Let Kids Choose What They Want to Read
When it comes to literacy, choice is a powerful force. When kids are able to choose what they want to read, they’re more likely to read for fun and stay engaged in reading during those long summer days. If your child isn’t interested in one book, feel free to let them try another one until they find something that speaks to them. It’s important to remember that graphic novels, magazines, and audio books count as reading, too!
Visit the Library
The library is one of the greatest (and free!) resources to utilize throughout the year, but especially in the summer when looking for activities to keep your child engaged in learning while they’re out of school. Start by working the library into your summer routine with monthly or even weekly visits. With a plethora of books spanning different styles and genres, it’s a great place to give your child the opportunity to choose their own reads. Most libraries have free public programs for both younger children and teens—check out the websites of the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library to find one near you.
Attend a Book Giveaway Event
There’s no denying that books are expensive, and that cost can act as a barrier to summer reading. That’s one of the reasons that Brooklyn Book Bodega hosts Big Book Parties and free book giveaways with our partners all summer long! At these events, kids can choose books of their own to take home and keep, which provides a sense of ownership and encourages reading. Depending on the event, you’ll typically find additional free activities, from arts-and-crafts to face painting to local performers and everything in between. Take a look at our event calendar, which is updated regularly.
Build Reading into Everyday Moments
Every moment can be a chance to read. Whether you’re on the subway traveling to your next destination or doing your weekly grocery shopping, there’s usually an opportunity to weave literacy into your daily activities. You can read shopping lists, menus, or signs with your child. If your child is still learning letters, you can point them out and ask questions about what letter it is or what sound it makes. If you’re going to the park, pack a book or two to take with you. If you’re driving somewhere, make books available in the car. If you’re cooking a recipe, invite your child to read it, too. The ways in which you can incorporate reading into ordinary moments are nearly limitless.
Connect Literacy to Summer Activities
Planning a beach day? Read a book about the beach or ocean as a bedtime story the night before you leave, and practice writing words in the sand once you’re there. Going to explore nature? Read a book about bugs or local wildlife, and keep a journal detailing the creatures you spot in the wild. If your child is interested in space, read a book about the solar system and then stargaze together at night. No matter the interest or activity, there’s usually a book that can be paired with it.
Create a Cozy Summer Reading Space
Having a designated summer reading space can help kids learn that sitting down with a book is an exciting thing to do, and can help it feel different than a required activity like homework. Find a quiet, screen-free corner of your home and make it inviting with pillows, blankets, bean bags, or floor cushions. To give kids a sense of ownership of the space, let them help design it with string lights, drawings, or favorite stuffed animals. Keep a mix of books available, make them visible and easy to grab, and rotate them throughout the summer.
By implementing these ideas, you’ll inspire a summer where kids can connect with the activity of reading, and hone their literacy skills for the upcoming school year. Summer is a gateway to limitless possibilities. When kids read they’ll find that books open doors to the same sense of infinite adventure.
For more ideas, you can check out Scholastic’s Summer Reading Guide, and Brooklyn Book Bodega’s Reading Tip Sheets for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers, as well as Reading Tip Sheets for Elementary, Middle, and High School Readers.
Jourdan Hercsek is Brooklyn Book Bodega’s Communications Associate.
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