Tips for Summer Reading Success

Summer is the perfect time to play, explore…and read! How can you encourage your child to use this time away from school to develop his or her passion for reading? Here are a few summer reading tips:

• Find new, free books online by browsing the National Emergency Library, available until June 30.
• When you’re looking through your home library or book shopping, have your child select books that she or he would like you to read aloud. There is extensive research that supports the benefits of listening to stories for improving fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. Perhaps the best reason of all to read to children, though, is the lasting memories it will create. Don’t underestimate the joy and power of this experience. Even older children love to be read to!
• Encourage your child to read in bed each night.
• Download ebooks or audiobooks to a handheld device. Sometimes the novelty of digital reading or listening can motivate a reluctant reader. Most of the local public library systems participate with Overdrive, a free digital resource for ebooks and audiobooks.
• Consider starting a parent/child or peer book club.
• Lead (and read) by example. Children of readers are more likely to become lifelong readers.
• See more tips in our recent blog: How to Inspire Your Child to Love Reading

We also recommend the following summer reading resources:

• Imagination Soup Summer Reading 2020 Recommendations
• Reading Rockets’ resources for struggling readers and book recommendations
• Browse recommended books by reading level
• Play Summer Reading Bingo!
• Keep a Summer Reading Journal

What books will your child fall in love with this summer? Check out Willow teachers’ list of summer book recommendations for every age, from preschool to Grade 8.