Encourage Summer Reading at Home: Parents Edition
Summer offers a perfect opportunity for families to relax, recharge, and build strong habits. Without the chaos of the school year, kids can work on developing skills indepently—like reading! When parents actively encourage summer reading, they help their children avoid the summer slide (the learning loss that happens between school years) and stay mentally engaged during the break.
Did you know? Reading fiction helps children develop empathy and understanding, and of course the more a child reads, the more likely they are to experience academic success.
Here’s how parents can encourage summer reading at home, making reading a fun and consistent part of your child’s routine.
For Younger Children
1. Make Reading Part of the Day
Set a regular time for reading—after breakfast, before bed, or during quiet afternoon hours. Even just 15 minutes a day helps encourage summer reading and supports early literacy. For young children who aren’t reading on their own yet, having them look at books and identify images and storylines based on imagery still counts!
2. Explore the Library Together
Local libraries often run free summer reading programs with prizes, themed events, and read-alouds. Public libraries are free to join, and most have eliminated late fees which can help ease some stress for parents. Let your child choose their own books to spark enthusiasm.
3. Turn Everyday Moments Into Reading
Whether you’re at the grocery store or making dinner, find ways to read signs, labels, and recipes together. Consider baking a sweet treat over the weekend and have your child read the recipe as you work together. These small moments help encourage summer reading in real-life settings.
4. Pick Books That Engage the Senses
Interactive books with textures, flaps, or sounds keep young readers interested. Rhyming books and repetition also help children build vocabulary and confidence.
For Older Kids
1. Create a Cozy Reading Space
A designated reading nook can make all the difference. Add some pillows, a light, and their favorite snacks to encourage summer reading in a comfortable environment.
2. Match Books to Their Interests
Whether they love sports, animals, or adventure stories, choosing books that align with hobbies can keep older kids excited to read.
3. Set Fun Challenges
Reading logs, bingo cards, or online trackers (like Scholastic’s Summer Reading) offer a playful way to encourage summer reading through goals and rewards.
4. Reward Reading
If possible, tie summer reading to a small family trip. For example, a child interested in biology may enjoy a reward trip to the local botanic gardens after reading a book about plant species native to your state. A child interested in the culinary arts could enjoy a family cooking class after they complete two autobiographies by chefs.
5. Model the Habit
When kids see their parents reading for fun, they’re more likely to do the same. Share what you’re reading and ask them about their books.
Bonus Tip: Sometimes the book is the problem, not the answer. If your older child is struggling to complete a certain book, offer a different book! It’s possible the original book wasn’t appealing to your child for any number of reasons, and a different book could spark their interests.
Your Summer Reading
When parents encourage summer reading, they’re helping their children grow academically, emotionally, and creatively. It doesn’t take a big investment—just consistency, support, and a love for stories.
If you’re passionate about encouraging a love of reading beyond the walls of your home, consider becoming a teacher and inspiring the next generation of readers. You can do so, quickly and affordably, by visiting americanboard.org. Your children will benefit by watching you set a goal, working for it, and launching a new career.
Parents Encourage Summer Reading: FAQs
- How to incentivize summer reading? We believe modeling behavior is the best way to encourage the same behaviors in our children. But if you’re looking to incentivize reading, we recommend the reading reward options listed above. Some additional ideas are available here.
- What is a good summer reading goal / how much should a child read over the summer? 20 minutes per day is considered a great starting point, with the goal being 500 minutes over the summer.
