During summer break, parents often struggle to maintain their kids’ academic progress, including reading. But how many kids naturally reach for books when it’s not assigned homework?
We interviewed 15 parents to find out what worked (or didn’t work) to encourage summer reading. The most common response was “no reading, no screen time,” but if you’re looking to expand your toolbox of tactics, read on:
Set a timer
“If we are doing a challenge read — something [my son] isn’t excited about — we set a timer,” said Sheena Keiser, parent of a 2nd grader. Sheena also offers tip number two.
Reciprocate
After timed reading, say that she agrees to stretch herself as well: “I do something that is nonpreferred (usually playing goalie) for 10 minutes. My son knows I am doing an activity I don’t normally do, just like he is trying something he wouldn’t normally read.”
Read aloud with your child
Kaëla Yuen’s sixth-grade daughter is a social learner and reader, so to entice her to read, Yuen’s partner will read aloud with her. “She’ll be an audiobook girl for sure! My son is more of an independent reader and more visual. He can be read to, but he needs to look at the book, and he’s someone who’s more likely to read on his own.”
“We do lots of audio books,” Deborah Kim, parent to third, fourth and eighth graders, concurs.
Make them think it’s their idea
“I follow a middle school English teacher on Instagram who gives me ideas for [my son], and I act cool, like ‘Hey, have you checked out this book?’ in a very casual way. He doesn’t know that I have a list of books in my head for him; it must be his idea,” says Nelsy Bradford, parent of an eighth grader.
Switch readers during read-alouds
“My daughter values time with us parents, so we take turns reading a few pages and switching readers,” says Laurie Chow, who is a parent to a kindergartener and a third grader. “We have a book that’s a little more challenging that we designated as a book we read together.”
Leave books where kids can see them
And be enticed by them. “I check out books and set them up in front of our fireplace. The kids always pick them up and read them,” Chow says.
Choose books by their interests
A lot of parents have caught on to this one. Kids are more likely to read if the book’s topic connects to their interests. Don’t disparage books about sports!
Connect reading and activities
“Summer-specific, we do field trips related to books or get books on topics our field trips might be related to,” Keiser adds. “We even do reading dates [on Facetime] with faraway family and friends. The support of family and friends, honoring reading, and his being a reader is a big deal.”
Put the library on your calendar
“I still go to the library every week to pick up books, to keep trying to put out high-interest reading material or just fresh material regularly,” explains Deborah Kim, who also suggests:
Ask for book lists
Librarians and booksellers know kid readers. Ask for lists and then let kids pick.
Ask their friends
“My kids are products of summer slumps. I guess reading has always felt like a chore, so a ‘love for books’ is already out the door. Now it’s less about [making it] a passion, and more about skill building,” says Dee Kim, who has fourth, sixth, and eighth graders at home. Finding books for her sixth grader is tough, but she’s learned he’s more open to peer suggestions.
Money for reading? Maybe not
“I wish the kids did way more reading in the summer than they do,” says Jayme Porteus, who has a fifth and a seventh grader. “One year, I gave them chore money for reading books. My kids haven’t really read that much as of late, so unfortunately, I am not losing my money to reading.”
