What Kind of Reader Are You?

August 10, 2023 byCassandra Polzin

3 min to read

Student reading a book while sitting on a bed

Summer is the perfect time for your child to develop a new reading habit. Since all kinds of readers can be susceptible to the “Summer Slide” or summer learning loss, reading can effectively reduce knowledge loss and keep your child interested in learning about new subjects.

How Can Summer Reading Help Prevent Learning Loss?

Your learner works hard all year to improve their literacy and expand their knowledge. With your support, you can help your child minimize the knowledge lost over summer break. Your child doesn’t need to read non-stop to see the benefits—reading just four to six books over the summer can prevent a decline in literacy.

According to the Colorado Department of Education, “Children that feel that reading is fun tend to read more often, so summer programs that help make reading enjoyable and social are most successful.” Remember that different kinds of readers will benefit from various types of books and reading activities. It’s important to understand that summer reading is most beneficial to your learner when they read books that are well-matched with their reading level and their unique interests.

How Can I Help Make Reading Enjoyable for Kids?

If reading feels like a chore or extra schoolwork, your child may not be as likely to dive into a new book. Here are a few strategies that can help make reading more engaging for kids.

Try reading challenges.

Look into summer reading challenges at your local library. Many public libraries run summer reading challenges, encouraging readers of different ages to read a certain number of books over the summer.

You may also consider setting up a reading challenge yourself. You can offer certain rewards for specific reading milestones, such as a pizza night, evening at the movies, park outing, or another prize that would entice your child. For younger children, consider setting a goal for books read. Meanwhile, you may set milestones for chapters or pages read for older readers.

Read books that have been adapted for the screen.

Encourage your child to read books that have been made into shows or films, then watch the adaptation together after they’ve read the book. Ask your child how the show or film was different from the book and encourage them to share their thoughts on which was better.

Have your child read books related to their interests.

If your child is particularly interested in a subject, build on this interest. Find age-appropriate books on that subject for them. When your child shows interest in a subject, participate in and encourage deeper conversations on the topic. This is a great way to enhance reading comprehension and facilitate a deeper understanding of the topic.

Read as a family.

For younger children, consider reading together. You may choose to read more difficult books aloud to your child. Meanwhile, have your child read picture books at their level aloud to you. This is a great bonding activity for you both while encouraging the benefits of reading.

If you have older children, you can each read your own book, but in the same space. When your child sees you modeling an enjoyment of reading, they’ll be more likely to adopt a love of reading themselves.