Dreamstime
Have you heard of the summer slide? If not, you aren’t alone. According to Scholastic’s Kids and Family Reading Report: 6th Edition, a national survey of parents and children, only 48 percent of parents have, and low-income families are even less likely to be familiar with the term (38 percent).
The summer slide is the loss of academic skills when students are out of school for the summer. It may not seem like those weeks off school could do much harm, but the cumulative effects of summers off can have a huge impact on your child’s academic success when they return to school in the fall.
While 98 percent of parents agree that reading books over the summer will help their child in the upcoming school year, on average, kids read just eight books over the summer. Older tweens and teens read even less, and nearly 15 percent of children surveyed read none at all.
Here is what you need to know and what you can do to prevent the summer slide:
While socializing with friends and organized sports are important activities for your child, parents should carve out time for reading in the daily schedule. Reading just 20 minutes a day builds early literacy skills, improves academic performance, and even increases the lifetime earning potential for your child.
When planning your next trip, don’t forget to include books in those boredom-buster packs. If you have limited space in your luggage for print copies, download electronic book-reading apps such as Kindle, Nook, or Libby. With a public library card and the free Libby app, you can connect to Tennessee R.E.A.D.S, the statewide eBook and audiobook download system. You will instantly have thousands of eBooks at your fingertips, and they are all free!
It may be tempting to keep your child busy with a tablet, but putting limits on screen time can help prevent the summer slide. Instead of imposing restrictions, enlist the help of your child in setting goals for screen time. Brainstorm a list of activities you can do together instead, and be sure to add reading to the top of the list.
If your child’s school library is closed for the summer, make plans for a weekly visit to the public library. Make a game of exploring different sections of the library each visit. Memphis Public Libraries are offering several camps, activities, and special story times. And don’t just check out books for your child; grab a few for yourself. Children who see their parents reading are more motivated to read!
Find a new book series your child hasn’t read. If you find a series with multiple books, your child will have something to read all summer long. Read a few books in the series with your child so you can talk to them about what they are reading.
Tap into the expertise of your child’s teacher or school librarian; they are most familiar with the current trends in children’s literature. Also, check out Brightly (readbrightly.com), a great website for the most recent book releases, book lists, and tips and tricks to get your child reading. The site is not just for kids. There are some good suggestions for grown-up reads as well.
If your child is motivated by challenges, look into the many great summer reading programs available in this area. Tracking reading progress can be very motivating for young readers. Check out the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, an 18-week national reading event. In celebration of the 20-year anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the theme of this year’s challenge is “A Magical Summer of Reading.” Your child will set reading goals and unlock digital badges as they achieve them. The site (scholastic.com/summer) is full of tips for parents, book lists, and resources. You will need the help of your child’s teacher, school librarian, or public librarian to get your child registered.
Jennifer is the Lead Library Media Specialist for Collierville Schools and blogs at bookjabber.wordpress.com.