Summer Reading Tips for Parents to Do
The summer is a wonderful time for children to read what they most enjoy, to learn new things, and to have fun! Summer reading is also an important way to prevent kids from losing too much ground over the summer research shows that summer reading can make a significant difference in a student's overall academic achievement, particularly when she begins a new school year in the fall.
1. At home
During the busy summer months, it can be hard for you and your child to find a chance to read. Set aside a quiet time each day for reading, and remember to include "reading time" when planning summer activities.
To stimulate reading at home, keep reading materials throughout the house, including newspapers, magazines, and brochures. Keep some fun things on hand too, like word games, puzzles, or the kids' section of the newspaper. This will increase your child's access to books and printed material, providing more opportunities to practice reading.
Help your child find books that she finds interesting — especially on rainy days! These might include non-fiction books, fun fact books, arts and crafts books, hands-on activity and project books, or cookbooks with kid-friendly recipes.
Try to find time each day to read aloud to your children — even the older ones. Reading aloud benefits children and teens, particularly those who are struggling readers. Read aloud in different places, from the porch to the park. And don't be afraid to use silly voices and act out the story!
2. At the library
Getting your child her own library card will make her feel special, and will motivate her to use her library card to check out books or other items. Make sure she understands the library's return policy.
Libraries can be magical places during the summer, and they often have summer reading programs, book clubs, and events for kids like puppet shows or storyteller presentations. They also may provide age-appropriate summer reading lists. Check the library calendar for special events throughout the summer. To learn more about different kinds of library services offered by most public libraries, read Colorín Colorado's Visit the library! articles.
A good way to decide whether your child is reading books at the right reading level is to have her read a from a page in the book that she has chosen (any page but the first page). If she is reading smoothly and understands what she is reading, the book is probably at a good level for her. If she makes five or more errors in a passage of about 50 words, the level may be too challenging. Librarians can also help you choose books at the appropriate level for your children.
