Summer should feel like freedom, filled with long days, sunshine, and a break from school routines. But for many parents, the break from school routines comes with a summertime hazard: the slippery slope down the summer slide. You’ve heard all the warnings from schools: read 20 minutes per day! Visit the library! Write in your journal! But as parents, you know… none of this feels easy.
Until now…
Because even though you’re sitting there stressing over how to get your child into reading this summer, you’re about to get:
1. The simple way to begin
2. Five easy ideas to get going
3. An ultimate guide for FUN (with a chance to win $100 Barnes and Noble gift card)
Helping your child fall in love with reading doesn’t require strict schedules or complicated systems. With the right approach, you can turn reading into something your child actually looks forward to, and even better, something you enjoy together.
First, Combat the Summer Time Screen Trap
Before we even talk about how to get your child into reading this summer, we have to talk about the elephant in the room… or rather, the elephants, as the case may be.
That’s right, SCREENS.
They’re everywhere. In our pockets, on the wall, on the backs of headrests in the car, attached to strollers, on our desks, lying on the couch, in the playroom, on our patio…. whew! It’s no wonder that screens beckon our kids to just sit out, turn them on, and start scrolling…
Screens are EVERYWHERE.
Tablets, video games, smartphone alerts, streaming shows… it’s easy for kids to slip into hours of passive entertainment. And honestly, as a parent, it can feel like the simplest option. You’re juggling work, summer logistics, and just trying to keep everyone happy. Even you sometimes just want to sit down and zone out.
Why Screens Are Your Child’s Enemy in the Summer
But screens are a HUGE reason why kids start sliding down the proverbial summer slide. The summer slide is the time that educators consistently warn about, when kids lose critical academic skills, especially in reading and math. What took months to build during the school year can start to fade in just a few weeks.
So, while it might feel okay to begin the summer by spending several days (a week, two weeks…) zoning out to screens, it presents a big challenge: the more time kids spend zoning out, the harder it becomes to re-engage them later, particularly in the ONE thing you know they’re supposed to do: read.
You’re left with a real dilemma:
- You want your child reading
- You want them off screens
- You want them outside, exploring, growing
But how do you actually make that happen?
If you’ve ever wondered how to get your child into reading this summer, the answer isn’t more pressure. It’s a more fun-focused approach.
And here’s how to get started.
Designate Screen Free Time
We know, this might sound hard. But do it, and you’ll reap rewards. Set a time block during the day where NO screen time is aloud – even for you!
If you really want to commit, then read about how to make Monday-Thursday completely screen free.
If you just want a place to start, then choose at least two hours during the day where no one will use screens. We recommend beginning shortly following breakfast to set the tone for the day.
Start with a Daily Read-Aloud Routine
The simplest and most powerful way to build a love of reading is also the most overlooked: reading aloud.
No matter your child’s age, from toddlers to middle schoolers, being read to is engaging, comforting, and powerful. (Even adults at our popular Read Aloud Program (RAP) enjoy the experience of being read to!)
Here’s how to make it work:
Set a Morning Routine
Yes, morning.
Choose a consistent time Monday through Friday when your kids are up, fed, and ready to start the day. Weekends can stay flexible, but weekdays should feel predictable.
This becomes your designated read-aloud time. It will set the tone for the rest of the day.
Keep It Simple and Consistent
Don’t overthink this! Let your kids pick a book that they want to hear. You can even read a chapter book if you have kids of varying ages, and let it span several days. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency and connection.
- Try for 20–30 minutes per day
- You read aloud to the kids
- Everyone listens (yes, even older kids)
If you’re wondering how to get your child into reading this summer, this is your foundation. Reading aloud turns reading into a shared experience. You ALL enjoy stories. You ALL become more curious. And you ALL get excited about the next chapter.
Everything else builds from here.
Connect Reading to Real Life
If you want reading to truly stick, you have to bring it off the page and into your child’s world.
Kids learn best when they can experience what they’re reading about. When a story connects to something they can do, make, or explore, it becomes exciting and memorable.
Here are simple places to start:
Toddlers–PreK
Read: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle
Do: Go on a color scavenger hunt at the park! After reading, head outside and look for colors in nature. Find something yellow, like the duck! Or, find something green, like the frog. This builds observation skills and reinforces learning through play. And it’s fun!
Kindergarten–1st Grade
Read: Mama Panya’s Pancakes by Mary Chamberlin
Do: Make your own pancakes! Read the story, then head to the kitchen together. Follow the recipe for pancakes, that’s presented in the book. Let your child help mix, pour, and flip (with supervision!). Cooking builds confidence, and makes the story feel real.
2nd–3rd Grade
Read: Lin Yi’s Lantern by Brenda Williams
Do: Make your own Chinese lantern. After reading, create a simple lantern craft, following the instructions included in the book. This is a great way to explore culture, creativity, and storytelling together.
4th–5th Grade
Read: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Do: Build a backyard shelter or camp outside. Talk about survival skills, then try building a simple structure using what you have at home. Or, pitch a tent and camp in your backyard. This activity brings problem-solving and imagination to life.
Middle School
Read: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Do: Explore the night sky and find constellations. Take a blanket outside at night and look up. Use a stargazing app or constellation guide to help you spot parts of our magnificent universe. This connects science, wonder, and storytelling in a powerful way.
Connecting books to real life becomes one of the most effective solutions when you’re wondering how to get your child into reading this summer because it turns books into experiences. When reading leads to action, kids stop seeing it as “something they have to do” and start seeing it as the beginning of something fun.
Download Story Lab: Where Books Bring Curiosity to Life
Let’s be honest, coming up with book ideas, planning activities, and keeping things fresh all summer long can feel overwhelming. That’s where a planned and FUN program can make all the difference.
Enter, Story Lab: Where Books Bring Curiosity to Life!
This is Read Aloud America’s FREE summer reading program, a 7-week summer reading adventure through the world around us, where books are paired with family-friendly STEM activities that keep the whole family OFF screens, INTO books, and OUT of doors!
Here’s what you get:
7 Weeks of Book-Based STEM Fun
Each week focuses on a new theme, including:
- Nature
- Space
- Weather
- Inventions
Every theme includes:
- Book recommendations for every age group
- Simple, engaging STEM activities, suitable for all ages
- Opportunities to explore outside or enjoy indoor crafts and creations
- Inspiration for conversations and curiosity-extensions
It’s everything you need to keep your child engaged, without spending hours planning.
Built-In Motivation (and Fun!)
Even better, there’s an exciting incentive built in. Each month (June, July, August), families can enter to win a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble!
Here’s how:
- Read a book from Story Lab
- Take a photo of your family reading the book together
- Post it on Facebook and tag @readaloudamerica. You can enter one photo every week.
Each month (June, July, August), we’ll randomly select a winner! If you win, you’ll receive a direct message via Facebook with further instructions on how to claim your gift card.
Why This Works
Story Lab is exactly the kind of simple solution that makes it all click. Instead of battling screens or trying to “make” reading happen, this summer reading program turns books into something kids actually want to choose: an adventure, a curiosity spark, a way to pass time that feels fun rather than forced.
Plus, it helps prevent the summer slide almost effortlessly by weaving reading into excitement, imagination, and real-life connection, so kids don’t even realize they’re building the exact skills educators hope they’ll maintain. When reading feels like exploration instead of obligation, kids naturally become more curious, more willing to visit the library, and more excited to pick up the next book on their own.
Start Now and Make this Summer About Books!
And that’s the real magic: when we connect reading to fun, excitement, and everyday life, kids don’t just read because they have to, they read because they want to.
Help your child develop a love of reading by starting with small, meaningful choices:
- Reading aloud together each morning
- Connecting stories to real-life experiences
- Using tools that make it simple and fun
When you shift reading from something your child has to do into something they get to do with you, everything changes.
