Importance of Summer Reading

As the summer months are approaching, you may hear the term “summer slide” start to make its way into conversations but what is that? Young people experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities during the summer. Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer. Typically, a child may lose up to three months of reading progress, leading to subpar reading levels by the beginning of the next school year.

Preventing the effects of summer slide is simple – Read! Children and young adults need ongoing opportunities to learn and practice essential skills. Summer Reading reminds kids that reading is for fun. Reading for as little as twenty minutes a day helps to keep children engaged and in a mindset that supports the learning of new information. This can actually lead to an improvement of reading skills, better preparing your child for the upcoming school year. 

The Anaheim Public Library hosts a Summer Reading Program to help keep kids focused on engaging activities, fun programs, and reading materials. Our selection of children’s books can stimulate their growing minds and get them ready to excel in academics.