Pick Up a Book and Don’t Get Stuck on That “Summer Slide”

As school winds down and temperatures heat up, the air is full of the anticipation of days at the beach, lazy afternoons, and outdoor family activities late into the night when it’s still light out. But with those carefree days of summer vacation comes a statement from kids that all caregivers have heard countless times: “I’m bored!”

No matter how many trips, games, activities, and snacks we provide, kids still lament their boredom over summer vacation. A great solution to this dilemma is to read a book. Not only do books help us travel without leaving the room, show us empathy for others, and teach us new things, but reading can also help children maintain academic skills and prevent the “summer slide.”

The U.S. Department of Education defines “summer slide” as learning loss or a decrease in academic skills when “children do not engage in educational activities during the summer months.” To combat this, it is important to balance summer fun and relaxation with educational activities to continue using skills learned during the school year.

Reading is a great way to maintain academic skills over the summer. Through reading, children can sharpen their memory, concentration, and critical thinking. To encourage reading over the summer there are several things you can do. It is helpful to keep a variety of books in different places where your child spends a lot of time: bedrooms, living rooms, the car, the beach bag, etc. Children also learn a lot by example, so let them “catch” you reading, too! Another motivator for many children is tracking their progress by logging the time they spend reading so they can visually see their accomplishments.

At the library, make sure to participate in the Mercer County Library System’s Summer Reading Program. This program aims to motivate children, teens, and adults to track their reading over the summer and, in exchange, they can earn prizes or raffle entries.

The Summer Reading Program begins on June 26 at all branches and runs through August 5. We have a program for children ages 0-11, teens ages 12-18, and adults ages 19 and up. Participants of all ages have the option to log their reading online at https://mcl.org/events/summer-reading-program/ or stop by your local branch to pick up a paper reading log.

Children who log time spent reading (or being read to) can go to their local branch each week to pick up a prize. Teens and adults will log the books they read for raffle entries. And while you’re at the library, don’t forget to check out some new titles for an increased variety of reading materials.

In addition to running the Summer Reading Program, all branches of the Mercer County Library System offer fun, entertaining, and educational programming for all ages. Children, teens, and adults can get crafty, learn a new skill, or meet some live animals. To see a full list of programming, visit https://mcl.org/events/ .

So when it comes to summer, make sure your plans include trips to the library as well as the beach.

Happy reading!

- by Liz H., Hightstown Memorial Branch