Summer Reading Loss – Don’t let it happen to your child!

Summer reading loss refers to the lack of growth or even decline in children's reading development that can occur during summer holidays when children are not in school. Research suggests that, the impact of summer reading loss on children in general, and on children who struggle with reading in particular, can be significant. (Mraz & Rasinski, 2007). Children and teens who have access to books and read over the summer are less likely to backtrack on their reading skills, and will actually grow more than those who do not read.

By the time a child reaches secondary school, he or she can be more than two reading-year levels behind peers that are not affected by summer reading loss. This reading loss occurs because children have limited access to books during the summer; or, sometimes children simply choose not to read during the summer months. Parents can make a difference.

What can parents do to prevent summer reading loss?

A few tips are:

• Take family trips to the library or local book store to read and/or borrow books. 
• Plan a schedule with your child/children for reading every week ahead of time; set aside at least 20 minutes a day for reading for primary school children and at least 30 minutes or longer for high school children. 
• Be consistent! Set a time during the day or every other day and stick to it. Children need routines. Being consistent will also decrease any struggles you may have initially. 
• For motivation, you may also want to decide on a weekly reward, to be determined by you and your child, if your child meets his or her weekly goal. 
• Read with your child/children; taking turns reading and discussing the story is always helpful for children.
• Don’t discourage your children from reading their favorite magazines or comic books as these can be just as beneficial as reading a chapter book.

Cayman Reads will have book choices for July and August which will be available at all library branches and for sale at local bookstores: Book Nook and Books & Books. Books & Books will have activities on Wednesdays and Saturdays for younger children from 10:30 – 11:30am. Also, the Humane Society bookstore often has a great selection of used books for young children and teens.

Information taken from: Mraz, M. and Rasinski, T.V. (2007). Summer reading loss. The Reading Teacher, 60(8). International Reading Association. 784-789.