Keeping Kids Engaged with Summer Reading

Every summer, many families across the country receive suggested — or required — reading lists from schools. And every summer, it’s likely some version of the same battle begins: Kids push back against reading expectations and parents try to motivate them. Or parents may be unaware whether their older kid is reading at all.

“For most children, [summer reading] becomes summer homework and for parents it becomes something to fuss about over the summer,” says Senior Lecturer Pamela Mason. “With summer reading, the explicit problem we're trying to solve is summer melt, keeping learners reading over the summer so that they at least maintain their level of reading skill. But we all know motivation is so key.”

At its core, summer reading is about addressing summer melt — the academic slide that can happen when students don’t stay engaged over the break. “Even avid readers sometimes push back against required reading lists,” Mason says. The goal isn't to just check books off the list or to simply tally minutes. Mason stresses trying to create joy in reading while maintaining and growing literacy skills. 

It’s important to scaffold learning, says Alex Hodges, director of Gutman Library at Harvard Graduate School of Education. This involves clear communication and collaboration among families, schools, and libraries to keep kids engaged. 

Simply handing a child a book is only a small piece of the summer reading challenge. “It’s not just one book and done, it’s a partnership across the community to help students avoid learning loss and help them continue to develop their reading abilities,” Hodges says. 

Motivate with Choice 

A good place to begin is letting kids choose what they read. Motivation increases when kids have autonomy over what they read. So, even if reading feels somewhat restricted by a school reading list, Mason suggests letting kids pick off the reading list first.

What if none of the books on the list resonate with your child? Many times, reading lists target a group of children, not necessarily the unique needs of each and every reader. If the books on the list are suggestions, rather than firm assignments, it’s okay to veer from the list if you can find age-appropriate materials. There are many resources to assist you in finding alternatives: You can check out your local library, consult the American Library Association, and check out some of the latest award-winning books such as the Caldecott Medal or Coretta Scott King Book Awards.

“Those are good places to start for parents who feel like they don’t have structure from the schools. But it does take extra effort to look up the information,” Hodges says, acknowledging that some schools don’t provide lists at all. “If you also want to expose your kids to different ideas and other ways of existing, you can consider equality and equity issues and explore the most challenged books lists too. Make decisions for your own family and yourself about what potentially is the best fit for your kids.” 

Be open to how you define “reading.” Give kids a chance to explore genres, authors, and alternatives to fiction. Some kids might want to read joke books or informational texts where it’s not necessarily narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. “Just get them engaged in text,” Mason says, noting flexibility goes beyond reading from page one until the last page. “A lot of children like informational text, which you don’t have to read from page one to page 44. You can use it to get information. Read a chapter on this. Then skip five chapters and read another one.”

Lastly, don’t think of choice as only about what they read, but also when they’re reading, and how long they’re reading, Mason says.

Reading Together Still Matters

Reading aloud isn’t just for younger kids. Even when children can read independently, shared reading experiences can deepen understanding and enjoyment. “There’s no harm in reading to them,” Mason says. “If you’re reading the same book, why wouldn’t that count?”

Reading together or reading the same books can be a tremendous way to model reading at home and also connect with your child. Plus, if your child never sees you reading, then it’s a tougher battle to convince them to read too. 

Audiobooks, e-books, and podcasts all count, says Mason, considering how listening to a story can foster comprehension and critical thinking — especially when it sparks conversation between parents and children.

“Modeling for our children that every word is not going to engage us as skilled readers, that there are parts we’re going to slog through and parts that we are going to breeze through because they’re so engaging or parts that are going to make us angry,” Mason says. “That’s why we suggest that adults and children read the books together so that you can have authentic talks about the books — how the book is structured, the storyline, and the characters, so we’re helping our children read critically.”

It’s Not Just About Time, It’s About Talk

Many families aim for “30 minutes of reading a day.” But instead of focusing on the clock, focus on meaningful engagement. Reading critically means going beyond plot. It’s about conversations and comprehension:

• Asking why a character made a certain choice.
• Questioning whether an author’s portrayal feels authentic.
• Recognizing your own reactions: “I didn’t like that,” or “I’m not sure I believe this character.”

This builds the foundation for critical thinking — a lifelong skill that extends far beyond books.

“It really helps us to model for our children and the children in our lives that everything that's in print or everything that's been published, be it in print or audio, doesn't necessarily mean that it's correct or authentic,” Mason says. “And even if it's authentic or correct, we can still disagree with it, but when we disagree, we should encourage our children go beyond saying, ‘That's stupid.’”

She encourages pushing questions for more thinking from our children and getting deeper into their argument. “We want children to develop opinions, but opinions have to be supported,” she says.

As your child reaches middle and high school, it’s important to be aware of what they’re reading in order to have those connected conversations. “I think that often times it’s avoided by both parties – the kids and the parents,” Hodges says, especially if the topics seem challenging. “Something that verges into conversations with a high schooler or a middle schooler so that they're aware of the greater world. And again, connecting back to what family values are important and what community values are important.”