Have you heard of the "summer slide?" It's the loss of academic skills during long breaks. Keep your kids on track with fun reading activities that won't interfere with their fun in the sun.
Are there any moments in childhood sweeter than the first day of summer break? Weeks of beaches, bike rides, camps, time with friends, and summer freedom await. But when school is out, often kids need remaining to pick up a book and avoid the dreaded “summer slide.” Or, the loss of skills over the summer from the previous school year.
During the summer and without practice, kids can potentially lose valuable reading and math skills. But, with some intentional learning and skills practice incorporated into your summer plans, you can help minimize any learning losses. Starting a summer reading routine can go a long way to combating the summer slide (and instilling a lifelong love of reading in your kiddos).
Reading is a great summer activity. Set-up a blanket on the back lawn, hit up the local library, or bring along some beach books to help:
1. Start with a small and achievable goal: Summer is for fun. Some kids might not see reading as a part of their summer plans. So make reading fun by starting off with a small and suggesting different formats like magazines, comic books, or graphic novels. Most importantly, letting your kids choose what they want to read is an effective way of creating lifelong readers.
2. Be a reading role model: We know that children mimic the behaviours of parents and caregivers, so why not model reading to your kids? Show your kids just how great reading can be by picking up a book and cuddling into the couch (or beach chair).
3. Get their friends in on it: No one wants to spend summer by themselves. Make reading an activity that they can do with their friends! This can include:
4. Create a routine: When you make reading into a habit, it becomes hard to stop! Set aside 15 to 20 minutes each day to read with your kiddo and follow-up with them about what they’re reading at dinner time or before they go to bed. Or, if you find your summer days are just too busy then you can always get an audiobook to listen to in the car.
Instilling a love of summer reading takes a bit of effort, but it pays off in the long run inside and out of the classroom.
