How to Keep Kids Reading During Summer Break: A Complete Guide

The Two Months That Matter More Than You Think

The last day of school is pure joy. Backpacks get dumped in corners. Schedules evaporate. Summer stretches ahead like an endless promise of popsicles and pool days.

And then September arrives, and teachers across the country notice the same thing: many kids come back behind where they left off.

It's called the "summer slide," and it's real. Research shows that students who don't read over summer can lose up to two months of reading progress. Two months—erased. And the really frustrating part? This gap compounds year after year. By the time kids reach fifth grade, the difference between summer readers and non-readers can equal two full grade levels.

But here's the flip side: summer can actually be a time of reading growth if you approach it right. Without the pressure of homework and tests, kids can discover that reading is genuinely enjoyable—not just another assignment.

Here's how to make it happen.

Why Summer Reading Is Different (And That's Good)

During the school year, reading often feels like obligation. Assigned books. Reading logs. Comprehension questions. Even kids who enjoy reading can start to see it as work.

Summer is your chance to change that narrative.

Summer reading should feel like freedom, not like school continued. That means:

• Choice matters more than ever. Let them pick what they read. Even if it's the same graphic novel series for the fourteenth time. Even if you think it's "too easy." Reading anything is better than reading nothing.

• Format flexibility. Audiobooks absolutely count. So do magazines, comics, cereal boxes (okay, maybe not cereal boxes, but you get the idea).

• No book reports. Resist the urge to turn summer reading into an educational exercise. If they want to talk about what they're reading, wonderful. If they don't, that's okay too.

The Summer Reading Challenge (Make It Fun, Not Forced)

Challenges can be motivating—or they can backfire spectacularly. The difference is in the design.

What works:

Create a personalized challenge that feels achievable and genuinely rewarding.

• Set a goal that stretches them slightly—not one that feels impossible
• Make progress visible (sticker charts work great for younger kids; digital tracking for older ones)
• Build in variety: "Try one book in a genre you've never read before"
• Let them help design the challenge

A sample challenge might look like:

• Read 15 books over summer (adjust the number for your child)
• Try 2 new genres
• Finish one "stretch" book that's slightly above their comfort level
• Recommend a book to a friend or family member
• Read one book by an author who looks different from them

What doesn't work:

• Goals that feel punitive ("You have to read 30 minutes before any screen time")
• Mandatory book reports or summaries
• Comparisons to siblings or other kids
• Rewards that are so big they become the point

Connecting Books to Summer Life

One of the best ways to make summer reading feel natural is to connect it to what your family is already doing.

Going to the beach? Grab some ocean and beach-themed books before you go. Read them in the sand. Look up words you find in the wild.

Visiting relatives? Find books set in that location. Or ask grandparents what books they loved as kids and track some down.

Attending sports camp? Biographies of athletes. Stories about teamwork. Books where characters play that sport.

Staying home? Create a reading fort. Have a backyard reading picnic. Make it an adventure.

The more reading weaves into real experiences, the less it feels like a separate "educational" thing.

Summer Reading Programs (Free Books and Motivation)

Tons of organizations run summer reading programs, and many of them are free. Take advantage:

Public libraries – Almost every library has a summer reading program with prizes, events, and celebrations. These are often wonderfully designed and completely free. Your librarian can help you find books at the right level and suggest new favorites.

Bookstores – Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and independent bookstores often have reading challenges with free book rewards. Worth checking out.

Schools – Many schools send home recommended reading lists. These can be helpful—but remember, they're suggestions, not requirements. If the list doesn't excite your child, find something that does.

Story Land – Our summer reading adventures include special badges, reading streaks, and new releases all summer long.

Building Reading Into Summer Days

The key is consistency without rigidity. Reading should feel like a natural part of summer, not an intrusion.

Morning reading ritual: After breakfast, before any screens, 15-20 minutes of reading time. This works because morning energy is high and you're establishing the habit before distractions appear.

Travel reading: Car trips, plane rides, waiting rooms—all opportunities. Download audiobooks for long drives. Keep a book in every bag.

Poolside/beach reading: Waterproof bag + books = reading continues on vacation. Even 10 minutes under the umbrella counts.

Bedtime stories (yes, still): Don't abandon your school-year bedtime reading routine just because it's summer. If anything, you have more flexibility to stretch bedtime and make it longer.

Setting Up for Success

Before summer starts:

• Do a big library run and stock up
• Renew your library card if needed
• Download audiobooks and apps for travel
• Clear out old books and make space for new ones
• Let your child pick out a few new books as a summer kickoff

Create irresistible reading spots:

• Hammock with cushions
• Blanket under a tree
• Cozy corner with good light
• Anywhere that feels special

Reduce friction:

• Keep books everywhere: car, beach bag, by the bed, in the living room
• Remove barriers to grabbing a book
• Don't require them to finish books they're not enjoying

For the Resistant Summer Reader

Some kids view summer as freedom from everything school-related—including reading. If you're dealing with resistance:

Reframe what "counts":

• Graphic novels and comics are reading
• Magazines about their interests are reading
• Recipe books you cook from together are reading
• Instruction manuals for projects are reading

Make it social:

• Start a kid book club with neighborhood friends
• Have them video chat about books with cousins
• Read the same book and discuss it at dinner
• Let them recommend books to you

Remove the pressure:

• Don't track pages obsessively
• Don't quiz them on content
• Let them abandon books they don't like
• Focus on the experience, not the metrics

Celebrating Along the Way

Don't save all the celebration for the end of summer. Mark progress throughout:

• Weekly check-ins: "What was your favorite thing you read this week?"
• Mid-summer celebration: When they hit a milestone, do something special
• End-of-summer party: Reading-themed party or special outing
• Passing it on: Donate finished books to a Little Free Library or younger friend

The Real Goal

Here's what I want you to remember: the goal isn't a certain number of books or a certain number of minutes. The goal is for your child to associate reading with pleasure, freedom, and summer joy.

If they read 50 books this summer but dreaded every minute, you haven't won. If they read 8 books and genuinely enjoyed them and asked to go to the library, you've won.

Summer reading done right doesn't prevent slide—it builds something better: a kid who actually likes to read.

Story Land Summer Adventures

Story Land was made for summers like this:

• Summer Reading Program with exclusive badges and rewards
• New releases added weekly all summer long
• Travel mode for offline access anywhere
• Family accounts so siblings can all participate
• Progress sharing so grandparents can celebrate too

Don't let summer slide steal your child's progress—or their love of reading.

Start your Story Land Summer Adventure and make this the summer your child becomes a reader.