My first graders keep coming home with notes holding “encouragement” to work with them this Summer to prevent the dreaded Summer slide.
Most people know that since our school system general supports a school year calendar that gives our kids an extended vacation each Summer, that kids usually come back in the Fall having lost some of the previous year’s gains. I know how hard my kids and their teachers have worked, being both my kids’ mom and a former teacher, so I get the urgent pleas to please, please not let their hard work go to waste.
I also know my kids want to spend all Summer splashing in the pool.
Before you start signing up a tutor for the Summer or ordering a stack of workbooks, here are some fun, engaging ways to help prevent the dreaded Summer Slide in the areas of reading and writing that your kids will actually enjoy.
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10 Activities to Prevent Summer Slide
These are 10 easy, fun activities to do this Summer. Do some of them, do your favorite every day – totally up to you.
1. Daily Reading Aloud
The benefits of reading aloud to your child – even after your kiddo is able to read on their own – are well researched and defended. Reading books, especially ones slightly above their reading level helps expand their vocabulary, models fluid reading, introduces them to new books and series they might love and more. Not sure where to start? We’ve got 100 NEW BOOKS TO READ THIS SUMMER so you’re sure to find at least a few to begin with.
2. Write a Pen Pal
My kids seriously fight me on writing unless there is a purpose. Writing to a pen pal is one example of giving them a reason to write to someone. If they aren’t sure what to write – begin with these PRINTABLE WRITING PROMPTS FOR PEN PALS.
3. Create Poems
We recently explored Poetry as one of our monthly themes and this was another fun way to get my kids writing and playing with words. We also snuck in some handwriting work because I explained to them that it hand to written super neatly or when we hung them up no one would be able to read their beautiful poems. You can read about our poetry project and 20+ more ideas in THIS POST.
Community Helpers Poetry and 20+ More Poetry Activities for Kids
4. Use Explore Books Through Play
EXPLORING BOOKS THROUGH PLAY is a book on my shelf I use when I need some inspiration for morning invitations or bookish play. It has great themes and ideas for extending some of our favorite books which get us reading, talking, writing, and creating. This is a perfect book to have on your shelf for Summer fun. – READ MORE
5. Write Emails
My kids are fascinated with anything to do with using the computer. I’m not big on screen time, but I do see the practical usefulness of applying their eagerness to building some computer skills for the future. One way I am planning to encourage this – along with writing – is to have them write emails to their dad at work. You could also have them email a pen pal instead of writing them by hand.
6. Listen to Audiobooks on the Go
Think you’re on the go this Summer way too much to commit to reading aloud every day? Or just want to get in even more reading with your kids? Consider listening to audiobooks. They have been vacation changing for us. Our favorites, along with some other on-the-go literacy ideas, are in THIS POST.
Awesome Audiobooks for Kids and 5 More Ways to Raise Readers on the Go
7. Daily Reading Time
I’m going to share more about this soon, but one of the most important ways to not only stop Summer slide with reading levels, but to even help your kids progress with their reading is to make time for Daily Reading. I plan to work in silent reading time (when they’re reading on their own to themselves), partner reading time (when they’re reading to each other), and read to mommy time (when my kids get some one-on-one time to read with me).
Also Read: 10+ Wonderful Early Chapter Books
8. Create Comic Strips
If your kids is as obsessed with graphic novels as my son – and if they fight you on traditional writing activities, like journaling – give comic strips a try. My son absolutely loves this and it gets him writing, developing characters, creating plots, editing, etc – all great literacy skills he needs to work on. Get FREE Printable Comic Strips HERE.
9. Complete a Reading Challenge
One last way to build literacy skills this Summer and prevent Summer Slide with reading is to complete a challenge with your kids. Whether you set individual reading goals, complete your library’s summer challenge, or our 100 Days of Summer Reading – OR all three – you will be encouraging lots of reading.
I’m super excited for a Summer of Reading. I’ll be sharing more about our Summer reading journey soon. For now, I’d love to hear from you – what activities do you do during the Summer with your kids to keep learning and reading alive in your house?
also read: Summer Reading Ideas and Booklists
