Why Creating A Summer Reading List For Your Child Is A Great Idea

The summer is a bubbly and exciting time for kids. A solid season of nothing but play is always a glowing highlight of the year. As a parent, you may wish to introduce an educational balance by creating a summer reading list for your child. But why is summer reading so important for kids, exactly? Summe reading lists are hugely popular in many schools across the US and the world, designed to keep children’s minds engaged with learning over the holiday.

Is summer reading beneficial?
Absolutely. Reading has an astronomical impact on your child’s comprehension skills. With all that time off school, a summer reading list can keep reading habits steady.

When it comes to learning, reading books is preferable to audiobooks. While handy, you could compare audiobooks to blending all your food. Reading is an act of engagement, whereas listening is a passive activity. Studies suggest reading is the superior practice for critical understanding and comprehension at all ages.

However, for children with learning disabilities, audiobooks can be a powerful alternative to keep them involved and lower hurdles. With all children, start small, and be sure that the level is appropriate. That way you can ease apprehension and keep the words from going in one ear and out the other.

How do I make a summer reading list for my child?

• Mix it up. Start with considering a variety of genres and periods. Create a rich tapestry of reading material from all corners of history and the imagination. Switching up eras and categories can keep a summer reading list for kids more fresh and diverse.
• Get them excited about reading. You’ll likely be met with rebellion if you bury your child with books they have no interest in. Find a blend of styles and topics that both grab their interest and develop their abilities. Let them choose.
  What if they hate reading altogether? Simply let them read what they love until they love to read. Everyone’s got a subject they enjoy. It might be a fantastical world or an unsuspectingly real one. Test the waters and sooner or later they’ll be stuck to the pages. Reading for enjoyment is the key to natural and sustainable growth.
• Ask for recommendations. Creating a summer reading list for your child can be tricky if you’re unsure which books to choose. If you could use advice as to which ones would suit yours, perhaps ask someone who might have a better idea. Teachers or parents of close friends could have picked up on a budding interest you might not have caught yet. Staff at your local library could also help you think outside the box.
• Time sessions carefully. Perhaps just before bed to ease them into rest, or in the morning just after breakfast when they’re most alert. A bad time is likely to be straight after a stimulating and dopamine-firing activity like a video game, or an engrossing, low-input activity like watching TV. These can, however, be effective motivators for after a session. You can also experiment with session styles – a time block of 45 minutes may work best, or a page limit that you think your child can happily reach.
• Set milestones and rewards. Milestones and rewards can be a very strong tool in launching good reading habits. To start, you could let your child dive into their favorite video game after a reading session, or take them for a special meal when they finish a book. Of course, you want them to be reading on their own accord, so think of incentives as training wheels on a bike. They’ll break away when they’re ready and your kid gets on a roll.
• Discuss the book. Sharing your thoughts and reflections on the story is a great way to keep the information fresh. You could contextualize non-fiction into the real world, or speculate on a story. Ask your child what they think. Tell them what you think. Create a dialogue and encourage strong opinions. Recalling and exploring elements such as themes, nuances, and character arcs in fiction will also help unpack the magical craft of writing.
• Get a cozy reading space. Something that can really make or break a reading session is the setting. Grab some beanbags, a cool lamp, a cute bookshelf, and some snacks, and set the scene for a cozy and engrossing session. Reading together can also be an inviting bridge between learning and bonding with your kids – win-win.
• Use e-books and interactive learning on an iPad. Technology has brought us an incredible range of fresh ways to enjoy reading. Some of the e-readers on the market today offer a super soothing experience. So don’t worry about piling up pricey paperbacks from Waterstones, or even lugging them back from the library – with endless storage, soft backlights, and crisp displays, e-readers can stuff an archive of books into a sleek device that even a toddler can handle.
  If traditional reading is a little dry for your younger ones, explore the world of interactive reading apps. If you have a tablet – or perhaps a wide phone – you can find apps that engage small children with cleverly interactive elements.

Hopefully now you feel equipped with all the know-how on creating the perfect summer reading list for kids. Time to begin experimenting with a list of potential books, determine a session style, and maybe set up some targets, rewards, and a reading corner.

If you’re interested in gaining assistance with your child’s reading development, you can explore the directory here at Teachers1on1 and find the perfect tutor!