How can you get your child to read more this summer?
Many parents are searching for summer reading strategies that are practical and affordable, yet many families do not set aside time to read for pleasure. How about your family? Do you have books sitting out in your living room? Do you take regular trips to the library or bookstore? Do you read for fun?
Recent research highlights significant benefits of children reading for pleasure, linking it to enhanced vocabulary, improved reading skills, and overall cognitive development. You can make a few easy changes to your summer and help your child improve their reading skills and reading enjoyment now and in the future.
Long-Term Academic Advantages
Children who engage in reading for pleasure tend to perform better on cognitive tests and achieve higher academic success in adolescence. This correlation emphasizes the role of early reading habits in long-term educational outcomes, and summer is the perfect time to put this into action.
Despite the clear advantages, there’s a concerning decline in children’s reading for pleasure. A 2024 survey by the National Literacy Trust reported that only 34.6% of children aged 8 to 18 enjoy reading in their free time—the lowest in nearly two decades. This decline is more pronounced among boys.
Summer Reading Strategies
Here are my recommendations for affordable and practical summer reading strategies to get your children reading more this summer.
Why summer reading is the best way to improve reading achievement – free
https://tailorjoy.com/free-easy-way-to-improve-reading-achievement/
Why sustained silent reading is so helpful – free
https://tailorjoy.com/benefits-of-sustained-silent-reading/
Where to get books – free
https://tailorjoy.com/libraries/
How to track books – $1
https://tailorjoy.com/summer-reading-log-printable/
How to ask good questions about books – free
https://tailorjoy.com/10-reading-questions-to-ask-your-child/
How to make reading with friends fun – $10
https://tailorjoy.com/backyard-book-clubs/
How to get 6 sessions with a certified teacher – $360
https://tailorjoy.com/tutoring/
Increasing reading fluency, vocabulary, and joy – priceless
Bonus Tip
Reading aloud is free and fun – free
https://tailorjoy.com/20-read-aloud-books-for-the-middle-years/
By promoting reading for pleasure from an early age, parents and educators can support children’s language development, academic success, and overall well-being. Summer break is the perfect time to use affordable reading solutions to improve your child’s reading skills and enjoyment of books.
Which one of these strategies will you start this week? Reply in the comments and let us know. You might just discover the joy of reading along with your child this summer.
Table Talk: What genre of books do you like to read for fun? When was the last time you visited a public library?