Reviewed by Christy Campo, manager of the Cherese Mari Laulhere Child Life Department and Rose Ovalle, program manager of Patient and Family Experience at Rady Children’s Health
With summer in full swing and your child’s days filled with swimming, park visits, bike rides and family time, it can be hard to find time for reading.
But your kids’ reading skills should continue to grow even when school is out. Here are some ways to make reading a natural part of their summer fun.
Tips for raising a happy summer reader
1. Explore your library
Visit your local library to check out books and magazines that your kids haven’t seen before. Many libraries have summer reading programs, book clubs, reading contests, and story time sessions for even the youngest readers. There are often rewards, such as a free book, after completing their summer reading lists. Young kids will enjoy checking out books with their own library card.
2. Read on the go
Going on a long car, bus, train, or plane trip? Make sure to pack your child’s favorite books to keep your summer reader engaged. If you’re not driving, you can read aloud together. Audiobooks, widely available at many libraries, are also a great option for keeping your summer reader entertained while traveling.
3. Make your own books
Encourage creativity to boost your summer reader’s engagement. Pick a favorite summer activity, whether it’s spending time with friends, vacation, camp, soccer, ice cream, or the pool, and have your child create a homemade book. They can draw or cut out pictures and write (or dictate) the story for each page. Reading the finished book together is a rewarding experience for your summer reader.
4. Keep in touch
Your summer reader doesn’t have to go far to practice reading and writing. Even if you stay home, encourage your child to send postcards, letters, or emails to friends and relatives. Finding a pen pal, like a family member, and exchanging messages regularly can be a fun way to support your summer reader’s skills.
5. Try something new
Novelty can be a powerful motivator. Let your child read to a younger sibling, a grandparent, a pet, or even a favorite stuffed animal. Changing the audience adds a playful twist to reading time and can help build confidence and fluency in a relaxed, low-pressure way.
6. Read aloud, at any age
Even strong readers benefit from being read to. Whether your child is a toddler or a tween, reading aloud builds language, comprehension, and listening skills, and it’s a calming way to connect. Take the time to allow kids to ask plenty of questions while reading to them; this encourages curiosity and deeper understanding. Consider making it part of your daily routine, whether it’s before bed, during a quiet moment after lunch, or while relaxing outside.
7. Encourage your teen to form a book club and discussion group with their peers
This is especially important for teen and young adult readers, a group often overlooked when it comes to reading programs and activities. Book clubs provide social connection, motivation, and a chance to dive deeper into stories together.
8. Keep up the reading routines
To nurture your summer reader, keep established reading routines going throughout the summer. Whether it’s a bedtime story or reading quietly outside on a warm afternoon, daily reading helps your summer reader stay connected to books. Most importantly, make reading a fun and shared activity!
