10 Ways to Prevent the Summer Reading Slide

Keep kids reading over the school break to avoid the summer slide! Only 30 minutes a day with Reading Eggs’ fun and engaging reading program will help your child avoid summer learning loss. Free trial

The holiday season is known to cause a pronounced dip – or 'slide'   in children's reading skills. With an abundance of distractions and a shake‑up of routine, getting your child to read over the festive season can be a great challenge as a parent.

With a bit of thought and preparation, the holidays can actually be the perfect time to enjoy fun and meaningful family summer education activities based around books and reading. Here are some great holiday ideas to keep the magic of reading alive at home.

1. Read books ahead of summer day trips

The night before you visit a museum, landmark, or special exhibition, find books on the relevant topic to read with your child. This is a great way to excite your child about what they'll see if you're headed to the natural history museum or an art gallery, and a great way to ease kids that get anxious. It also helps you plan your trip together according to interests.

2. Create a summer holiday reading list

Reading Eggs huge online library boasts over 3000 e-books spanning hundreds of topics, so your little one is sure to find the perfect book! Alternatively, if you want to get out and about, why not take a trip to the library? Put together a list of books your child would like to read during the summer holidays. Display this book list somewhere they'll see it every day, like on the refrigerator. Reward your child with something small each time they check off a new title, knowing they're keeping on top of the summer slide!

“Reading Eggs has been tremendous in helping my son not only learn his letters, but jumpstart the reading process. After a failed first year of kindergarten, this has really been a blessing to us. I have been amazed at the progress he continues to make with this program.”
— Marsha

3. Avoid summer learning loss with 'DEAR' time fun!

DEAR stands for 'Drop Everything and Read', where everybody in the house must drop what they're doing and read a book. Mirror how wonderful reading is as your child is more likely to develop a love for books. Make it spontaneous and exciting, similar to announcing a special treat!

4. Read to relatives to keep the summer slide at bay

Encourage your child to show off their new reading skills to grandparents or relatives by reading them a story. Most children love being the focus of attention, and grandparents are usually more than happy to encourage their progress.

5. Recipe for math and literacy success

Cooking together is so much fun over the holidays and provides a great opportunity for your child to read out the ingredients and steps. It's also a great way to reinforce math skills with measurement or counting ingredients. Afterwards, help your child write a menu for guests and family members, using as many descriptive words as they can.

6. Try this fun craft activity to avoid the summer reading slide

Cut out the shape of a tree from a large sheet of construction paper and invite the whole family to decorate it, adding the words 'My Family Book Tree'. Hang up your tree near your usual reading area, and as each person reads a book they can write down the title and add a new leaf.

7. Re-enact stories and perform them for relatives

Choose a well‑loved story with fun and interesting characters and re‑enact it from beginning to end. Prepare some props and perform your story as a family for relatives when they come to visit.

Make reading fun over the school break by reading together with friends. Prevent the summer reading slide with Reading Eggs Free trial today!

8. Stop summer learning loss with a fun kids book club

Host a weekly reading circle at your house and invite your child's friends and family to join in. They can take turns choosing which books to read together each week.

9.Keep kids learning over the holidays with fun car literacy games

If you're planning a long road trip during the holidays, games like 'I Spy' can be great for building early literacy skills. Make words with number plate letters and don't forget to also stock up on good books for the road!If kids are taking their iPads they can read online books from the Reading Eggs library too!

10. Mix things up with joke books and comic books

Encouraging your child to read a variety of texts is great for setting them up to become lifelong readers. Joke books, riddles, and comic books are a great way to prevent the summer slide, as even resistant readers enjoy these types of texts. Choose books you know they'll love. Don't be afraid to experiment with different formats, as they all offer their own unique benefits to young readers.