Encouraging a Summer Reader

Ten Tips to Get Your Child Reading and Learning All Summer Long

Daily reading is a simple but effective way to build language, literacy, and learning skills. Unfortunately, the amount of time that a child spends reading during the summer may drop to little or even none while school is out. This can reverse some of the progress they made during the past academic year, and it can make the beginning of the next school year challenging.

Daily reading can make all the difference!

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) encourages families to use the summer to nurture children’s joy in reading. It’s a great time to let kids take the lead and choose what they read.

Visit the library regularly, and consider signing your child up for a summer reading contest or program. These are often available through schools, libraries, and even stores and sports teams. ASHA offers more ways to help encourage reading and learning below:

1. Embrace all kinds of books. Don’t assume that kids only learn by reading traditional novels. Children benefit from other options as well. Graphic novels can be good choices, especially for hesitant or struggling readers. Audiobooks are another great option. A librarian can help your child find books of interest. You can also have your child swap books with neighbors and friends.
2. Make a reading routine. Dedicate a specific time of day when your child can read. Even 15 minutes each day can make a big difference! This could be right before bed, first thing in the morning, or at any other time when your child realistically and consistently has free time.
3. Create a book nook. A comfortable spot can make reading more inviting and fun. Let kids design their own special place for reading. They may want to pick out a blanket, some pillows, and other accessories to make the space their own. You can find plenty of free items in the home or on “Buy Nothing” online communities.
4. Host a book club. This could be a family book club or one with neighbors or friends. If you’re reading together as a family, remember that even older children benefit from being read to out loud. There are many book series that all members of a family can enjoy.
5. Read on the go. Have a book handy when you’re at the pool, the beach, the store, a restaurant . . . anywhere and everywhere! Magazines, kid-friendly crossword puzzles, and Wordle-type games are also good choices. Keep these in your car so you don’t need to remember to pack them.
6. Cook together. Cooking is not only fun but educational. Reading and choosing recipes from a cookbook or online, shopping for the ingredients, and preparing the meal can all build literacy and math skills.
7. Plan adventures. Visit local parks, museums, art galleries, aquariums, zoos, and community/child theaters. These places offer hands-on learning, lots of new vocabulary, a chance to practice reading informational signs, and a way to explore a different place or time in history. Many of these attractions are free or low-cost. Those that aren’t free may offer special student rates or summer promotions.
8. Play board games together. This is a sneaky way to help a child practice necessary skills such as taking turns and following directions. It also helps with memory, problem solving, and vocabulary. Finally, playing board games is a great way for families to spend quality time together. Other fun activities include scavenger hunts and escape rooms.
9. Set a good example. Spend some of your own free time reading. Show your child that reading is for everyone. Children are much more likely to follow if you set an example, rather than just tell them.
10. Don’t forget to write! There are all sorts of fun ways to incorporate writing into summer without it feeling like work. Have your child send postcards to family members or friends. Keep a summer journal or diary. Leave notes or jokes on sticky notes around the house for each other—make a game out of it! Write out daily or weekly schedules together, or bucket lists of summer activities.

Language and Literacy Skills in School-Aged Children

Good reading and writing skills are the foundation of academic success. Building these skills is a critical part of a child’s development during their elementary-school years. ASHA provides lists of communication, reading, and writing skills that most children demonstrate from kindergarten through fifth grade, so parents and caregivers know what to expect each year.

If you have concerns about your child’s communication, social, or reading and writing skills, contact your child’s school to request an evaluation. Your child may just need some extra support, or they may have a disability that is interfering with their success. If so, they may qualify for free or low-cost services from the school’s speech-language pathologist or other specialized professionals.