As we come off the back of what may be the strangest end to a school year in any of our memories, summer is kicking off in a way that feels very different than normal. As families we have managed to make it through the school year and are happy that the zoom meetings will finally slow down and we can enjoy the summer. However, especially this summer, when our children missed months of actual in-person school, it is vitally important to continue to encourage your kids to read so they don’t lose important skills. For some kids, this is easy. Reading is in their blood and they must be told to stop reading and go do something else. But for everyone else, for those with reluctant readers, for those with unengaged readers, for those with struggling readers, we have an uphill battle the next few months, to keep them engaged with books. Here are some tips to try to keep your child reading this summer:
Let them choose what they want to read. During the school year many students must read books that fit in certain criteria. The books need to be a certain grade level or length or both. They must read books that are assigned instead of books they enjoy. During the summer, let them read the books they like. Even if those books are a little too easy, a little too hard, a little short, a little long, letting them choose books they like, will let them also build their love for reading. If a book is too easy, it is working to build their enjoyment of reading and the possibility of becoming a lifelong reader. If a book is too hard, but they are motivated to read it because they want to, they will improve their reading, without having to worry about taking a test on it at the end. Even if they have assigned reading this summer, let them mix in some books of their choosing, because enjoying the books they read is most of the battle.
Encourage them by reading yourself. This can mean reading your own books and just letting them see that you value reading, and that you also make time for it in your busy schedule. If you tell them they should read, but you never read yourself, they will start to wonder if it is important. Even better, choose to read what they are reading. Read the same book at the same time and talk about it with your child. Ask about their favorite parts, tell about your favorite parts, make predictions together, watch them try to sneak in some reading to get ahead of you, engage with your child and the book. Avoid turning it into a book report but find a fun activity at the end you can do together. Maybe you can create something that was part of the book together. You can build something, you can bake something, you can up-cycle objects to new purpose. If you go online, you can find crafts of varying level for just about any book. Find one you both think looks fun and try it!
Make sure to find a balance. Reading is very important, but it is not the only important thing that they will do this summer. Make reading a part of every day, but do not expect them to read all day, every day. The amount of reading done each day will vary by child. If you have an active child, where sitting and reading is physically hard for them, limit it to shorter, more frequent bursts. Instead of saying “You have to read for the next hour” change it to “you have to read an hour every day”. That might mean three 20-minute reading sessions or two 30-minute sessions. But reluctant readers will struggle to sit and read for an hour at a time. They may enjoy the reading at first, but by the end they are just watching the clock. If you have a child that is struggling and reading is a chore, do the same thing. Read a few times a day in shorter amounts and let their brain and body take a break in-between. Typically, younger children have shorter attention spans, while older children have longer attention spans. But you know your own child! Do not be afraid to adjust how long they read based on what will work best for them. Forcing them to read longer than they can focus, is more detrimental than not reading at all, because you will make them start to resent reading.
Sign up for summer reading. Though it will look very different this year, summer reading at the library will still happen! For those children who are more extrinsically motivated, earning simple badges and small prizes helps them want to read. It makes reading more of a “game” and brings a new level of engagement. And who doesn’t want to win prizes for reading?
Overall, making reading a part of the summer is important, but make sure to do it in a way that makes it different from school. Make it more fun, make it more of a family project, make it as enjoyable as it can be. The summer is when you can build your child’s love for reading, which will also keep their skills sharp for the next school year.
Thank you Kari for being a guest writer this week for Macaroni Kid Henderson-Boulder City. Parents, are you looking for additional information about Henderson Libraries? Click here to learn more.
