A new study from Scholastic is painting a clear picture of why summer reading is so important for children.
Part of the study shows that a child's reading and math scores almost double if at least one book is available at home.
According to the recent Scholastic Kid and Family Reading Report: 8th Edition, 41% of children surveyed said they get most of the books they like to read from school.
So what happens during the summer when school is out and access becomes limited for many students?
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"Anywhere that you are, there are opportunities for kids to read print," Amana Alexander, Chief Academic Officer of Scholastic, said.
Those opportunities can come from free library visits, reading billboards while in the car, reading the back of a cereal box during breakfast, and even reading cookbooks if your child is helping you cook a meal. No matter where you are, children can flex their reading muscles, Alexander said.
Alexander reminded parents that you have to know where your child is in order to ensure their summer reading is effective.
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"It really depends on how far behind your child was [when the school year ended]. Depending on how far behind they are, that will decide where you need to start during the summer," Alexander said. "If your child started average or above average, you have a lot more leeway with your kids. Those who may have some work to do may need to be reading more."
The recent Scholastic report found that 61% of children who said they actually like reading during the summer would read even more if they had access to books.
The report also found that contrary to popular belief, children actually like summer reading. Of the children surveyed, 92% said their favorite books are the ones they get to choose themselves because they are about subjects they find interesting.
According to Scholastic, children learn an average of 4,000 to 12,000 new words each year just by reading.
Here's Alexander's best tip for parents and guardians: "You just have to model the way. You have to show your kids how much reading means to you. If they see you reading often, oftentimes, they will follow suit," Alexander said.
Alexander encouraged parents to start at the public library... Not only to check out books, but also to participate in the many free programs offered during the summer.
