Six No-fuss Ideas to Encourage Summer Reading

I've heard many stories through the years about children who use Sonlight and now love to read. As part of the full curriculum, the remarkable Readers and Read-Alouds in each program have helped them catch the reading bug. When summer break (or another vacation) comes around, you couldn't stop these kids from reading if you wanted to. I love that.

But what about children who still struggle to read? Those for whom it hasn't quite "clicked" ... who haven't exactly fallen in love with books? What can you do this summer to encourage them? Here are six simple ideas:

1. Keep Reading!

This may sound obvious, but summer is a perfect time to keep plugging away with reading. Even if you take a well-deserved break from other studies, most children benefit from continuing to read every day. This could mean sharing a Read-Aloud together at bedtime, having your children read to you, or setting aside 20 minutes a day for everyone to grab a book from their Summer Reader collection and read silently.

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Especially for children struggling to read, this steady little bit of work each day can pave the way for a reading breakthrough. It also keeps your kids from losing whatever reading confidence they've built up over the school year.

2. Read to a Dog

One of the fun tips I've seen pop up more and more is the idea of inviting children to read to dogs. Several different studies show that reading out loud to dogs can help kids gain confidence and fluency in reading. A quick Google search will turn up interesting studies and various library programs around the country. Sometimes called a Reading to Rover program, libraries often host specially trained therapy dogs to cuddle and "listen" to children reading out loud to them one on one.

It seems that kids love the fact that the dog won't judge them, won't correct them, and listens with endless patience. Plus, these pets tend to calm children who would otherwise be nervous about reading out loud.

So if you have a cooperative dog at home (or at Grandma's house, a neighbor's place, or the library), consider encouraging your children to read one-on-one to their furry audience. Who knows? Both the dog and the child might love it.

Boy reading to goats outside — My son, Hank, is a natural learner, especially when it comes to anything to do with animals, nature, math or science. He has a wonderful memory and is always looking for an opportunity to share a fun fact with anyone! Reading, on the other hand, has not come naturally. He is progressing well, but it takes a lot of effort on his part, which can feel frustrating for him. He prefers to have a quiet space while reading and that is often hard to come by with two younger siblings. So one day I sent him outside to read to his goats. They were the perfect audience, attentive, quiet, and non judgmental! He finished a week's worth of reading in one afternoon!

Our family is so thankful for our ability to homeschool our children. And I wouldn’t be able to do it without Sonlight! —Kaila M. of Berkshire, NY

3. **Let Your Children Read Books a Notch Below Their Ability Level**

Sometimes, we eager mothers want our children to push themselves all the time. But when you're helping children fall in love with reading, that may not be the best strategy. It's often better to let them read books that might seem too easy for them.

You want great stories to draw your children in so they're compelled to keep going. But when kids are frustrated because they struggle with each page of a book, they will probably miss the joy of the story. They may decide that reading is an unwelcome, unrewarding chore.

But if children are allowed to read exciting books a bit below their ability, they will slowly gain confidence and (we trust!) eventually catch the reading bug. When that happens, they'll probably shoot ahead and start choosing harder books. I've heard of second-graders who would always pick picture books for their pleasure reading, until they suddenly found the joy of reading and took off into chapter books. Better to lay a foundation for the love of reading before pushing too far ahead.

4. Play Audio Books on Road Trips

Summer road trips are the perfect opportunity to catch some great books on CD. Just head to your library and check out some audio books before you take off.

When John and I would take the kids on car trips, I used to get books on tape from the library and a small tape player for each child. The only thing we'd hear from the kids for hours on end was, "Can you pass me another book?" I must say, it's a nice way to promote reading … and some peace and quiet in the back seat.

5. Join (or Create) a Summer Reading Program

Whether or not your kids are already hooked on reading, they might enjoy a local reading program. With fun events and prizes, these programs can have great influence in getting kids to read. If your local library or book store doesn't host a program, consider creating your own. A simple sticker chart with some basic prizes (such as an ice cream cone or a special date with mom or dad) could be all that you need for some serious reading fun this summer.

6. Model Reading for Your Children

Don't forget to pick out some great books for yourself, too. When your children see you enjoy reading on your own, it helps them realize that reading is a worthwhile activity. So don't feel guilty for heading out to the porch with a good book this summer. It may actually help your children!

With Sonlight, you are never short of ideas for reading during your break! Explore the Sonlight Readers or Read-Alouds you may have skipped this year. Or get a head start on a few for next year.

Do you have other ideas to encourage reading this summer? We would love you to share them in your Sonlight Connections Facebook Group.