Well, everyone, it’s that time of year again. Time to dust off the old Beanstack account and head into your local library; you’ve got from June 1st to August 1st to read books, attend programs, and win prizes!
If you’re new to HCPL’s Summer Reading Program, welcome! If you’ve participated in our program before, welcome back! This year’s theme is Unearth a Story AKA dinosaurs, and literally every staff member in the system is very excited about that. The number of branches currently decorating their walls like they're about to film the next Jurassic Park (my branch, Aldine, included) is, well, all of them, I think.
Summer reading is more than just a fun program and impressive decorations, though. It has genuine benefits for its participants, and diving into those is the purpose of this blog.
Why Summer Reading?
People always say summer reading is important for kids and adults, but why is that? Is it just to entice more people to sign up for the summer reading program? Well, yes, but it’s more than that. Summer reading is actually good for you and everyone in your family, from the adults to the newborns.
Below are just a few reasons to participate in the summer reading challenge every year.
It Can Prevent the "Summer Slide"
To address the most talked-about advantage, let's get the "summer slide" out of the way. If you aren’t familiar with the term, summer slide refers to the tendency for hard-won academic skills--especially reading skills--to weaken or even be lost during the long summer break.
Mostly, this is because they are no longer in a structured academic environment for most of the day. They don't have the routine brain exercise that comes from attending school, and most kids aren’t going to go watch Khan Academy algebra videos on their own over the summer. They're going to sleep in, watch TV, scroll through TikTok or Instagram, and play video games if they aren't hanging out with friends.
The brain is a muscle that needs regular use to be supported. While all of the activities I listed are fun, they aren't working a child's brain the same way that learning about math or history would. One advantage of a summer reading program is that it provides this exercise. Reading uses several different parts of the brain, according to a Harvard Medical School publication, and it plays a crucial role in a child’s brain development.
Related Content
- Article: "Reading and the Brain" from Harvard Medical Website
- Article: "Book reading over summer months proven to boost educational gains in kids" from Arizona State University
It's important to note that kids and teens don't have to read school books or weighty classics to prevent the summer slide. All reading is good reading, so summer reading is a great opportunity for them to explore different genres and topics to read for the sheer pleasure of it.
By participating in the summer reading program, your child's brain is still getting some exercise so it stays sharp come the new school year.
Reading Can Build Lifelong Bonds
When I was in elementary school, my dad read to me every night. It was the highlight of my day. He tried to read with silly voices and failed so completely that it was even funnier than if he’d succeeded. He must have read dozens of chapter books to me through the years, but I only remember The Wizard of Oz. I still clearly remember his voices, though, and how I constantly promised I’d immediately fall asleep if he just read one more chapter. I did not, in fact, immediately fall asleep, but he never seemed to mind.
All of that is to say, reading with your kids is something they’ll never forget. From personal experience, it means a lot to a child for a parent to set aside uninterrupted time to spend together. I knew my parents were always busy, especially my dad, who was working two jobs at one point, so I appreciated even more that he'd read to me each night. It means even more if the book you read is one you picked out together. The only reason I fully remember The Wizard of Oz is that it is the book series we agreed on. All the other books were just random selections my dad made based on the New Books section of the library.
Studies have shown that my own experience with my dad is not just anecdotal: time spent reading with a child positively affects the parent/child relationship. And as if that weren't enough, reading to a child has also been shown to reduce parents' stress levels.
Related Content
Participating in the summer reading program is the perfect opportunity to start the habit of reading together. Plus, any book you read with or to your child counts towards BOTH of your Summer Reading Program goals, too. So, don't forget to log the reading for you and your child!
Reading Reduces Screen Time
If you weren’t already aware, studies have shown that excessive time spent in front of screens (like phones and tablets) can have a negative effect on a child’s development. From worsening their executive function and academic performance to stunting their language and social development, screen time isn’t always beneficial.
During the school year, screen time can be reduced as children learn and interact with their peers. During the summer, that interaction can easily be lost as students spend the entire day at home.
Reading mitigates screen time, and encouraging kids to attend library programs helps reinforce their social learning as they interact with their peers again. Besides, more lasting memories are made when children are playing or interacting with each other, not with their screens.
Related Content
Summer Reading Is Just Fun
Exactly what it says up there: summer reading at HCPL is just fun. Between discovering new books and attending unique programs, kids are having a much better time than if they were just sitting at home all day. It's not just children's programs, either. Many branches have adult-oriented programs like a Jurassic Park Book Club at Aldine or DIY Zen Garden at the Katherine Tyra Branch.
The more books participants read and programs they attend, the more prizes they get! And yes, adults get prizes, too, so you could easily make a family competition of seeing who can complete the summer reading challenge fastest. Also, kids who reach their reading goals get a ticket they can register on Beanstack to be eligible for a free bike!
You literally have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing up for the summer reading program. Sign up by visiting the HCPL Beanstack website or by visiting your nearest HCPL library branch.
Learn More on the HCPL Summer Reading Program Webpage
Reading Recommendations
Not sure where to start your summer reading journey? Here are two suggestions for each age group to help get the ball rolling!
0-5
6-12
13-17
The Curse of Heartwood Academy
18+
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