Keep Your Kids Reading This Summer

Join us every week this summer for ideas on how to make sure your child is learning all summer long, and in beating the summer reading loss.

We are on a quest to beat summer reading loss! Children can lose several months in their reading level over the summer, anywhere to one to several months. The solution is easy: have your children read all summer long.

But let’s face it - we are all watching pennies as the price of everything seems to rise. Buying books for the kids isn’t cheap, and you can only read the same copy of a book so much without losing your mind.

The best solution is to head on over to the Malden Public Library. You can’t beat the price - it's free! You also have access to an expert on children’s literature on hand in the librarian who can recommend books on any topic for even the most reluctant reader.

Make it a weekly trip to head on over to “shop” for new books. Spend some time sitting and reading together different books off the shelf at the library. On a hot summer day, there is no better way to beat the heat. 

The Malden Public Library also has a great summer program: Children in grades K-4 can sign up for the summer reading program with prizes for reading every week. They also now have a great teen reading program for the older kids.

You might also try a book swap with relatives or neighbors. Swap books to read over the summer and then get together to share what you read.

Keep an eye for yard sales. Yes, it isn’t free, but it is cheap. Yard sales often can have cheap books that will help stock up your home library with books.

Remember to keep reading all summer long, at least 30 minutes every day!

By Margaret Adams, Director of Language and Literacy for the Malden Public Schools. The Malden Public Schools summer reading lists and forms can be found on each school’s websites or at http://its.malden.mec.edu/sm/SummerReading.cfm.