Summer is full of fun days and restful moments, which can make keeping children reading a real challenge. While it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent summer learning loss, getting a reading habit to stick isn’t always easy with all of the distractions. The good news is that with a little intention, you can make summer reading something your child looks forward to. Here are five ways to encourage your child to read over the break:
Work Reading into Your Child’s Routine
The first and simplest way to keep your child reading is to carve out a short, dedicated window for it in their daily routine. This can be right before bed, first thing in the morning or after a meal. The key here is consistency. When you work reading in around the same time each day, it becomes a natural part of the routine, rather than something that feels like a task, a chore or an interruption to the summer fun.
Let Them Choose What They Read
Once you’ve worked reading into your child’s daily schedule, it’s time to pick some books. One of the most effective ways to engage children in reading is to let them choose what they want to read. When they have the freedom to choose their own books, they’re far more likely to enjoy reading them and be inspired to find more to read. For younger children, it can help to narrow it down by putting two or three books in front of them and letting them pick the one that interests them. A sense of autonomy and independence goes a long way in getting healthy habits to stick.
Make it Fun: Do a Summer Reading Challenge
What’s another great way to get your child excited about reading? Make it fun! A summer reading challenge turns an everyday task into something much more exciting and motivating. Start by helping your child set a goal, like a certain number of books, chapters or pages they want to read this summer. Then create a colorful visual tracker so they can see their progress. Celebrate milestones, like reaching the halfway mark, with small rewards to help keep their momentum going.
Attend Programs at the Local Library
Local libraries host plenty of events and programs that children can join for some summer reading fun with other children in the community. Even something as simple as attending a read-aloud storytime in a library setting can get your child excited about reading and searching the shelves for their next book. Check to see if your local library has a summer reading program your child can join to explore new genres and different types of books in a group setting. Plan to visit the library at least once a week to make it part of the routine.
Explore Bible Stories as a Family
The Bible is full of meaningful stories that give your child the opportunity to explore and deepen their faith while helping them keep up with their summer reading goals. Take some time as a family to read them together, especially stories with themes that connect with what’s going on in your lives. Make it fun by getting them their very own children’s Bible with kid-friendly explanations, exercises and prompts, as actively reflecting on what they’re reading is a helpful habit for strengthening reading comprehension.
At St. Charles Borromeo, we’re always encouraging our students to embrace curiosity and explore the world around them, and reading is one of the most powerful ways to do so. We’re an Orlando Catholic school located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando that is committed to proclaiming the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. We believe in teaching the whole child and want students to become lifelong learners, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by visiting our website or contacting us online.