It's summer break, and that means nearly three months with no school. No tests. No homework. No rigorous class schedules. The kids are thrilled. The parents? Well, they’re just trying to maintain it all. During the summer months, parents juggle a lot. They’re trying to keep their kids, who are now home all day, entertained, and with so many hours to fill and the temptation of screens, some fear their children will fall behind in the academic progress they made during the school year.
Unfortunately, it's legitimate fear. Summer can negatively affect a student's academic progress. Summer is full of playtime and sunshine, and that's great, but it often includes academic sliding. Experts caution summer can actually hinder the progress a student has made during the school year. Since most children are not in the classroom during summer, they often regress in skills they previously learned.
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Keeping reading muscles strong is crucial.
Brandon Cardet-Hernadez and his team at Mrs Wordsmith strive to help improve kids’ literacy skills all year long, even in the summer.
“It’s like building a muscle,” he says. “Summer is not a time to shut down. It’s not time to close out all learning. You might not be learning new skills, but it’s a time to practice the ones a student has already built during the school year.”
Mrs Wordsmith provides resources like games, apps, books, and other phonics resources to help parents, teachers, and most of all, students. Its dynamic team of creators works to improve the reading and writing skills of children ages 4-11. They hope to provide an engaging learning environment both at school and at home.
Parents can help their kids get excited about reading and academics throughout the summer.
It’s important to keep your kids learning inside and outside the classroom. Literally. Summer is the perfect time to be outside and integrate academic skills your child already knows into your travels, outings, and adventures. Take the skills already learned inside the classroom, out of it.
Easy ways to read daily:
- Write words with chalk.
- Read the menus at restaurants.
- Read the signs out loud to your kids while driving on the highway.
- Read the caution signs at the pool.
- Have an older sibling read with a younger sibling.
- Join a summer reading library challenge.
- Ask your child to identify words they know on informative signs at the zoo, aquarium, museum, etc.
Model lifelong learning.
“Let your child see you struggling to read or sound out a complicated word. Ask for their help. Encourage them if they can’t quite make out a word,” Cardet-Hernandez says. “Model yourself making mistakes. Even if they are a little fabricated.”
Talk openly about college, jobs, or the future. Even if your child is younger. Children should see grownups still learning, too!
Be thoughtful about screen time.
No one is saying to throw out the screens. But be intentional about screen time with your child over the summer. By using apps and games, such as those by Mrs Wordsmith, your child can spend their freedom keeping their literacy muscles strong. Even if they don’t realize they’re doing it. These apps provide a parent report, repetition, and developmentally appropriate reading support.
Meet your child where they are.
Many times, parents think summer should be the time to get ahead. However, summer is a time to bridge the gaps. Meet your child where they are in their literacy skills. Practice what they already know. Don’t pressure them to rush ahead.
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Parents can (and should!) help reluctant readers over the summer.
Not every child is going to want to spend their summer days reading or practicing sight words. And that’s okay. Meet your child where they are academically. But don’t forget to focus on the things they’re good at. Children need to feel confident.
Unfortunately, the students that struggle in school will make the least effort during the summer when they have more freedom and choice.
“Reluctant readers need it more,” Cardet-Hernandez says. “Focus on the ‘just right’ challenge. These are skills your child can do independently while staying on task. If a child doesn’t know five or more words on the page, it’s too hard for them. They won’t feel successful. You can even have your child read at a lower level to increase their confidence.”
Build a program or schedule.
Set the expectations. This will create more success. Build a system that works for you and your family. Read daily for 15-20 minutes. Read to your child out loud every evening or assign an older sibling the job. Don’t forget to include other family members or caregivers that may be involved in your child’s life throughout the summer.
Use incentives.
Find what motivates your child. Maybe it’s logging reading time for a certain amount of time daily or weekly, then celebrating with ice cream when they reach their goal. (Check your local library for a summer reading program!) Or maybe it’s practicing vocabulary skills before they can get screen time. Maybe it’s playing a game or an app while playing outside or doing something else they enjoy.
What works for one student may not work for another. You know your child best. Find what works for them and your family this summer to keep them reading over the summer.
