Parents who are eyeing the upcoming fall school year may be eager to find ways to keep kids off the summer slide and diving into books instead. Summer reading skills programs can help boost kids’ reading skills during the summer, but not all kids are going to be excited to amp up summertime with a good book.

The solution? Choose summer reading skills programs that prove reading is cool…and that books are a blast!

Programs to improve reading or boost proficiency vary in design…and cost. The right one is usually the one that fits the needs of the child and addresses the struggles that are impacting a child’s reading journey.

These reading programs are typically ‘research-based’ and come with a price tag. Typically, parents may seek the advice of teachers about what programs will offer the best results for their child—especially for kids who need reading intervention.

Don’t Let Your Child Fall Behind this Summer!

All kids can benefit from enrichment during the summer. And all kids—and adults, too—should keep reading—during the long summer break. Falling down the summer slide can mean the loss of reading proficiency and the need to make up these skills during the fall.

Reading during the summer encourages kids to stay on the reading journey and keep their skills fresh, instead of falling behind.

Here are some creative summer reading skills programs that prove reading is cool and books are an exciting journey! Keep in mind, these ‘programs’ are creative at-home solutions for parents instead of more formal learning programs.

To seek out research-based programs, discuss options with your child’s school. Parents also can use Readability to help struggling readers at home during the summer.

Choose a Reading Theme for Summer

Parents who read show kids that reading is fun and a form of entertainment…instead of just another assignment. Parents can take the lead this summer by starting a themed summer reading program. 

When choosing a theme—and books that support it—be sure to select titles that fit your child’s reading ability. What is your child’s reading level? If you’re unsure, you can research books that fit into a grade-level rubric. The site Understood also provides a link to the San Diego Quick Assessment of Reading Ability (this is an easy test to check your child’s level).

Need some fun themes for the summer? Here are a few suggestions:

• Out of this World (space-themed books)
• It’s Magic! (Magicians or sorcerers)
• Family Fun (stories about families/siblings/etc.)
• Candy Time! (books with a candy theme…there are LOTS!)

Or keep it simple. Read books about summer or that have themes about vacations or island adventures. You can find books that fit your theme (and that are a match for your child’s reading level) by visiting your local library’s online card catalog.

Set Reading Goals

Create reasonable reading goals for kids. Some children may resist reading and could see a timed reading goal as a way to look at a few pages to kill time and run out the clock. However, reading time goals can be useful if a child cannot read many pages in one sitting.

For older kids or kids who are fluent readers, a reading goal could be set using page measurements. Library programs may set the page goal at 1,000 pages, and, while this seems like a massive undertaking, if you break down 1,000 pages over even a month, it amounts to about 30 pages a day of reading.

Should children be rewarded for meeting reading goals? Again, some library programs offer prizes incentives. Parents may certainly offer prizes or extra privileges for meeting a reading goal.

What if a Child is Struggling to Read During Summer?

Parents may discover through daily reading over the summer that a child is really struggling to read or to understand what is read. This could be a wake-up call that more intervention is necessary.

When school is out of session for the summer, parents may feel stuck. If a child is showing signs of a reading struggle, parents can help them at home. Read with children and help work on sounding out words. Ask questions about the story, too, as a way to gauge understanding.

If parents feel that their best efforts aren’t making an impact, then a reading app could be beneficial. Readability offers lessons that meet the individual reading needs of each child. Books are provided at the correct reading level, and a child doesn’t advance until they show proficiency. In addition, a built-in AI tutor recognizes your child’s voice and provides guidance when the child has difficulty reading a word or passage. The tutor also asks questions about the story to ensure a child comprehends what is read.

Reading programs offer different benefits and features, and parents should feel confident that the money they spend on these programs will help their child. Readability provides a free seven-day trial to provide parents with the opportunity to review the app’s features and to better understand how it can help their child.

Interested in trying out Readability for your child? Sign up for your free trial today!