How to keep your child reading over the summer
The summer holidays might seem like the perfect time for children to take a break from learning and the hard work they do at school but, here at Kumon, we also think it’s a great time to get into reading and sparking an enjoyment of books.
Why reading is great for summer
Reading is the perfect summer activity because it’s fun, can be done almost anywhere, and there are countless books to look at!
No matter what your child’s age is, there are a few different things you can try to keep your child reading over the summer:
- Pack books if you’re going on holiday
- Use a reading log to keep track of how many books they’ve finished
- Participate in a Reading Challenge
- Set up or join a book club
Pack books if you’re going on holiday
Having something to read when you’re on holiday, in the car, or while waiting at an event is a great way to encourage your child to read in their spare time. You could bring books or even suitable magazines on topics that interest them – the important thing is to provide any hesitant readers with the material they’d be interested in! The Week Junior is running a summer reading promotion where they post new children's book recommendations on their social media each week - definitely worth checking out for ideas.
Use a reading log to track finished books
Keeping track of the books they’ve read is a great way for children to see what they’ve accomplished, and it will encourage them to continue reading and expanding their list, even past the summer months! Your children could design their own chart or journal pages that will track exactly what they, or you as a family have read before the school term starts. Include short reviews of what you each thought of the book and your own family star rating.
You can encourage your child to read books of different genres to find new topics that interest them. This will help them to read outside of their comfort zones and help them to enjoy books they would not have otherwise read.
Participate in a reading challenge
While keeping a reading log is one way to encourage summer reading, taking part in a reading challenge is another good way to boost motivation to stay awake under the covers with a torch! See if your local library is running a reading challenge, as they may even be offering rewards and recognition for completing it! The Reading Agency who also work with UK public libraries have a summer reading challenge and you'll find others online too.
Set up or join a book club
Book clubs aren’t just for adults! You can set up a book club for your child or join an existing one in your local community. A book club could be arranged with your child’s friends locally, who may be included in other extracurricular activities or at a local library. Meeting in a group will allow your child to discuss the book they have been reading with others, deepen their understanding and appreciation of the story and ultimately, encourage them to keep reading.
Regardless of your child’s age, reading is an excellent summer activity to engage with and a great way to help your child learn and boost their abilities. The Kumon English Programme aims to foster a love of reading and learning in every child and is a perfect next step to aid children of any ability level. Click here to find your closest centre and find out what Kumon can do for your family.
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