How to Make Summer Reading More Enjoyable for the Whole Family
Whether you anticipate it eagerly or dread its arrival, summer reading season is upon us! Whether it’s organized through your local school, library, or your own initiative, ensuring your child remains engaged with books during the summer months is an excellent strategy to keep their minds active and growing, even outside the structured environment of the classroom.
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If you’re seeking inventive methods to keep your child’s brain engaged, here are some tips to make summer reading more enjoyable for your whole family.
Why Is Summer Reading Significant?
Research consistently demonstrates that reading is fundamental for acquiring knowledge, maintaining mental acuity, and achieving academic success. The phenomenon known as the “summer slide” often leads to frustration and a sense of regression as the new school year begins. Engaging in reading activities throughout the summer mitigates this loss, fostering confidence and success from the start of the new school year.
This is particularly crucial for children who struggle with reading. Sustaining their reading momentum beyond the school year is essential for their ongoing development.
According to a three-year study conducted by Dominican University, children participating in summer reading programs exhibited higher scores on beginning-of-year reading assessments. Moreover, these students experienced sustained reading progress throughout the academic year compared to their non-participating peers.
Here are 3 Ways to Elevate Your Summer Reading Experience:
Whether your child is an enthusiastic bookworm or a reluctant reader, these three approaches will inject some fun and excitement into this year’s summer reading adventure!
#1: Establish Mini-Goals (And Celebrate Achievements!)
It’s not bribery; it’s motivation! 😉
Encourage your child to set achievable reading targets, such as a certain number of pages per day, completing a specified number of books per week, or accumulating a set amount of reading time each day. Depending on your child’s age, you can utilize tools like sticker charts, goal-setting apps, or other creative methods to track progress throughout the summer.
Upon reaching these mini-goals, celebrate together—whether it’s a trip for ice cream or another special treat! Maintaining a low-pressure, goal-oriented approach alleviates the stress often associated with summer reading.
#2: Select Humorous or Interest-Driven Books
As per research, engaging with enjoyable, self-selected books enhances reading proficiency. Consult curated reading lists tailored to your child’s age and interests, either through online resources like Pinterest boards or by seeking recommendations from knowledgeable librarians. Librarians are adept at identifying books that capture children’s imaginations and may suggest hidden gems your child will adore.
Remember, the aim of summer reading is to foster a lifelong love of reading and keep young minds active. This isn’t the time for weighty or dry texts; instead, prioritize lighthearted and enjoyable reads, or focus on subjects aligned with your child’s current passions.
#3: Involve the Whole Family
Yes, parents—it’s time to dust off those books! Reading alongside your child not only sets a positive example but also offers numerous cognitive benefits for adults, including staving off cognitive decline. Set reading goals for yourself alongside your child, demonstrating your own commitment to the importance of reading!
Encourage mutual accountability for your reading goals. Your child will relish the opportunity to check on your progress and may even be motivated to outpace you in their reading endeavors!
Struggling with Reading? It Might Be More Than Just a Phase
Persistent difficulties with reading could indicate underlying cognitive challenges that hinder your child’s enjoyment and proficiency with books. If your child frequently:
- Struggles with decoding unfamiliar words
- Experiences difficulty recognizing previously encountered words
- Reads slowly and struggles to maintain comprehension
- Encounters challenges with understanding the material
It may be time to explore their cognitive skills to identify potential barriers. Reading is a multifaceted process that relies on various cognitive functions. In addition, every individual’s root-cause reason for struggling with reading may vary.
Research underscores the importance of early and targeted intervention for struggling readers. Waiting for issues to resolve themselves is not a viable solution. Instead, addressing cognitive weaknesses head-on equips children with the tools they need to thrive.
