It’s officially summer and though it’s time to hit the beaches and plan family vacations, it is also imperative to hit the books. It is proven that children suffer from “summer reading loss” when they are not working their brains the way they did during the school year. Summer reading loss refers to the decline in children’s reading development that can occur during summer vacation times when children are away from the classroom and not participating in formal literacy programs (Allington & McGill-Franzen, 2003). So as parents we have to be consistent when it comes to setting a time during the day (each day) to read with your child. Here are a few suggestions to keep those creative minds going throughout the summer:
1. Make reading fun!! You don’t necessarily need to dig your head into a book to work your child’s mind. A good ol’ scavenger hunt that is cognitively provoking and entertaining. One of the great things about scavenger hunts is that you don’t have to spend time making and hiding clues. The players search for things that already exist.
2. Library visits. Libraries always have great reading programs during the summer months with awesome incentives. Check your local library for more information.
3. Choosing the right books. I have 5 children who all read at their appropriate ages for their grade. It is important to find books that is appropriate to their level and for a positive challenge, find books to a level up. Choosing he right book will keep reading interesting. I believe giving a book to a child below their reading level is actually more stunting than not reading at all as well as boring.
4. Record their reading. Logging the progress of your child’s will encourage them to read more. An example of log recording can include a weekly book report.
5. Communication. Talking to your children challenges them mentally and strengthens relationships with them. So get talking!!
There are so many ways to provoke a reader. What are some of your ways to educate your child this summer?
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