Imagine spending nine months learning how to do something then going three months without performing this task at all. Coming back to it would definitely take some readjustment so you could get used to it again, right? For some children in school, when summer break comes around they fall behind in skills they learned at school, but there are ways to help make summer activities enjoyable AND educational!
If you or someone you know has children, help encourage kids to read this summer and set a goal with them. Ask how many books they think they could read this summer (and maybe you can even challenge them to do MORE) and make a written agreement between the two of you. The agreement should say the number of books the child will read over the summer and a spot for you to sign and say you’ll read with them.
Celebrating when they reach their goal is important. Reaching their goal can be shared with a simple sticker chart to track their progress and help to encourage the child read even more. If you choose to do a sticker chart, you could have a big sticker reward for every five books they read or just for reaching their goal at the end. Some examples of other rewards you could offer include:
Research has shown that having a caring adult to do one on one reading with a child helps them feel more connected to learning. You can make a difference in a child’s reading skills and help them get ready for the upcoming school year! Grab your favorite childhood book and start reading today.
Check out our other fun summer learning activities, including our School Readiness Kit!