The kids are out of private school and the last thing on their mind is reading. They are happy to be out of school so they just want to relax and enjoy their time off. As a parent, you understand the importance of reading, so you want to encourage your child to enjoy it. Keeping your child reading all year round can keep them ahead of the learning curve, improve their knowledge and critical thinking skills. Especially with so much time off from school, it has been shown that children who do not read over the summer can fall behind and lose some of the literary skills they learned in the previous school year.

Increasing Knowledge

Not only will summer reading prevent learning loss, but it can actually push your child ahead. Reading can build a child’s knowledge in every subject. There are all kinds of books they can get into, so encourage them to switch it up and try new subjects. Research has shown that a child who consistently reads throughout the year has better progress in vocabulary, spelling and math. Encouraging your child to read can improve their comprehension skills, general knowledge and push them ahead of their classmates.

Make it Fun

Reading can be a daily activity that you and your children can do together. Set a time aside each day where you can all read and share what your stories are about. When you make reading a fun activity, your child will continue to read throughout their life. Reading is a great habit to instill in your child, as there are many benefits to reading in adulthood. It has been shown that the mental stimulation from reading can reduce stress, improve concentration and slow or possibly prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Walton Academy

Walton Academy is a private school located in Greenville, North Carolina who is always looking to improve their students’ learning. While we are not with them over the summer, we hope parents can get involved and incorporate reading into their daily activities. Have your child coming back in the fall ready for the new year with the help from a great summer reading list.