DALLAS — Every year, educators worry about “summer slide,” the potential for learning loss when children are not in school.
This issue is more pronounced among low-income families who don’t have access to summer camps or other enrichment activities.
One way to battle summer slide is through reading for fun, which is associated with many academic and health benefits, including strengthening the brain, increasing ability to empathize, reducing stress and building vocabulary.
Newly released data by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that children who read for fun are more likely to succeed in reading assessments. Despite the benefits, over 30 percent of 13-year-olds nationwide reported they never read for fun.
Lindsay Marczak, senior director of research and validation at Scholastic, the largest publisher of children’s books in the U.S., said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News that building home libraries can make a real difference in children’s likelihood of reading.
“When kids have the opportunity to choose their books, they’re empowered to choose what stories they like the most,” Marczak said. “If you have some agency in what you’re reading, you’re more likely to do it.”
Having access to a variety of books from different genres motivates children to pursue their interests.
“As long as students are reading, it doesn’t matter the form that they’re reading,” Marczak said. Paperback novels, picture books, graphic novels, audiobooks — the options are endless.
“Even as little as five books — and they don’t have to be huge chapter books — can prevent a decline in reading,” Marczak said. “Each additional book counts.”
Make reading into a family activity
Rosa Mendoza, an East Dallas parent, said she establishes “no technology” times every day, including during meals. These are times where she tries to engage her two children in reading and learning.
“The other day, I was cooking and my daughter was doing the dishes. We were talking about Cleopatra,” Mendoza said. Her daughter was interested in learning more, so she searched for more information online and read an article in National Geographic.
“It’s not time-consuming unless you make it that way,” Mendoza said.
Marczak said the research suggests that simple activities could encourage children to read more. One of them is to read together and read aloud.
Bringing the family together to read a book and discuss the story is a great way to engage children and spark their interest in reading.
Family members can take turns reading aloud and sharing their thoughts about the book.
When reading becomes a group activity, children feel that they’re a part of something bigger and are more likely to enjoy it.
Plan trips to the public library
Providing children with a variety of books doesn’t have to be costly. Public libraries offer not only books, but also reading challenges and other events.
The Dallas Public Library has a summer reading program called Smart Summer. The program started on June 3 and runs to Aug. 12. The challenge is for children and teens 18 and younger to read 20 minutes per day. (The library offers a separate reading challenge for adults.)
If children read for 10 days, they can earn a free book they can take home for their own home library. If they read for 50 days, they have the chance to earn prizes that include hoverboards, bikes and bouncy houses.
The program is popular among library patrons, said Haley Kral, early literacy manager of the Dallas Public Library. “There are people who start on the very first possible day and will read every day of the summer.”
Anyone can participate in the program: It’s free and no library card is required. Readers are encouraged to keep track of their daily reading online, using an app provided by the library.
“If they don’t have access to the internet, they can always visit the library and we can give them a paper reading log,” Kral said.
Be a role model
Research shows that children learn from watching adults around them by reproducing behavior they observe from a young age. This concept applies to reading behavior, as well.
“The No. 1 thing that I tell parents is to be a role model for their kids,” Kral said. “If your kids see that you make reading a priority, they are way more likely to want to copy you.”
Having a daily reading practice during down time can show children how enjoyable reading can be.
Make sure books are within easy reach
Mendoza said her son, David, 9, prefers reading through an app called Learning Ally. “It’s a wonderful tool. He can read it whenever he wants and as many times as he wants,” Mendoza said.
She also likes the app because it has an audiobook function as well as a highlighting function. “He follows the text with his fingers,” she said. David’s current favorite book is “It’s Okay To Be Different” by Todd Parr.
“If you’re going on a road trip, download an audiobook while you drive,” Kral of the Dallas Public Library said. Listening to an audiobook while driving is a great way to pass the time while engaging in a family activity.
Children are more likely to read if they have easy access to books. Kral recommends having books around the home. “If there’s a book at hand, they’re more likely to pick it up.”
The Dallas Public Library allows for each library card holder to take up 100 books at a time. “It feels like there’s no limit,” Kral said.
