Summer reading keeps kids mentally engaged in learning
In 1978, Barbara Heyns published “Summer Learning and the Effects of Schooling,” a survey of middle-school students over a period of two years that showed a widening educational gap between students who had access to books and educational experiences over summer break and those who didn’t, especially in disadvantaged communities. Since then, there have been thousands of studies pointing to the same conclusion — reading during summer vacation prevents a decline in reading ability, builds confidence, promotes classroom participation and results in higher scores on reading achievement tests.
This is such a well-known issue that you are no doubt aware of the so-called “summer slide” already. What’s most worrying is that there tends to be a larger cumulative effect on children from poor households, making it more difficult to achieve on the same academic level as their peers over time. Summer slide has even been shown to affect college students and adults. What we all need to remember is that reading and learning is a skill, and like any skill that goes unused and unpracticed, it can become rusty and dull.
If that sounds like a dire situation to you, there is a solution. Simply having access to books and exposing children to opportunities to learn and grow can counteract learning erosion over the summer months. Studies show that greater access to reading material leads to more reading in general. Honing reading skills is like practicing an instrument — the more you play, the more confident you are and the more enjoyment you get out of the practice.
There are kids who say they hate reading books. I think what they really mean is that they haven’t yet found a book that catches their interest. We all remember being assigned books in school that we didn’t enjoy and were a chore to finish. The good news is that reading skills aren’t dependent on a certain kind of book. Children are more likely to read if they find enjoyment in it. Make an effort to let your children read about topics they enjoy — be it fiction or nonfiction. Read it with them, ask them questions, and make reading a social activity.
We have the advantage of living in a time when free access to books is at an all-time high, and there are librarians who can help kids find that special book just for them as well as offer fun, engaging educational activities during summer break. Visit your local library with your kids this summer and see what kind of fun you can have together.