I started my career as a classroom teacher, and one thing I saw firsthand was how much the summer months can impact a child’s reading development.
Summer should absolutely be a time for fun, family, and making memories, but it’s also a great opportunity to help children maintain the skills they’ve built throughout the school year. In order to maintain these skills, I have a few tips you can do to include reading as a part of your family summer fun.
But first, let me share why summer reading so important.
Research shows that students who continue reading during the summer are more likely to maintain their reading skills, stay confident as learners, and return to school ready to build on what they already know.
Reading is like a muscle—the more we use it, the stronger it becomes. When students stop reading for long periods of time, they can lose some of the progress they made during the school year and return to school needing time to rebuild skills they had already mastered. When these setbacks happen summer after summer, the effects can accumulate over time. Students who experience repeated summer reading loss may find it more difficult to keep up with increasingly complex texts and coursework, which can contribute to persistent achievement gaps.
Supporting reading at home doesn’t have to be complicated! Let’s talk about simple ways to incorporate reading into you and your families’ routine. Start by letting your child choose books and topics that interest them, which can help keep them engaged and motivated to read. Take advantage of free resources, such as your local library, to access a wide variety of books and reading materials.
For younger children, read aloud and talk about the story. Ask questions, discuss new vocabulary, and encourage them to sound out unfamiliar words rather than skipping them. For older students, consider reading the same book and discussing it together.
Reading doesn’t have to be limited to books. Reading recipes, directions, menus, maps, or information about a favorite hobby all help build literacy skills while connecting learning to everyday life.
Just as important, make reading enjoyable for the whole family – including yourself. When children see reading as something fun rather than an obligation, they’re much more likely to keep doing it.
What matters most is helping your child build positive reading habits and a lifelong love of reading.
By making reading a part of daily life and encouraging curiosity, you can help your child stay engaged, confident, and ready for success in the new school year.
If you are looking for some book titles to start at, I suggest checking out Mrs. Bush’s 2026 Summer Reading list, which includes new and traditional titles for earliest to middle school readers celebrating America’s 250th birthday!
Happy reading!
