According to the website, education.com, students who read consistently over the summer are less likely to experience the “summer slide” and are more prepared for a successful school year in the fall. In fact, studies have shown that reading just six age-appropriate books over the summer can maintain a child’s reading level from the previous school year.
BONUS TIP: Check with your local library to find out if their summer reading program includes adults. Some don’t have an age restriction on participation and getting involved helps create some accountability for Mom and Dad, too!
Local libraries' programs currently include:
Bellingham Public Library - The Program will run from June 29th - August 18th, 2020. You may sign up here. (You may sign up as an individual, family, group and/or class.)
Blackstone Public Library's Summer Reading Program has also been adapted this summer to include an online reading log, Facebook sessions, and outdoor activities. Packets may be picked up beginning July 6th. The five week program will run through August 14th. Participants may pick up their prizes on: Monday, August 17th from 11am-5pm, Tuesday, August 18th from 11am-7pm, Thursday, August 20th from 11am-7pm, and Friday, August 21st from 11am-1pm.
Franklin Public Library - you may sign up here (a separate form for each child) through August 15th, and then you may pick up your summer reading bag(s) from 10AM-1PM, Mondays through Saturdays, by calling the children's room [508-520-4941], and they will run your bag(s) out to you! The Franklin PL has launched a new Facebook group called the "Imagine Your Summer: A Virtual Creators Club!" which is intended to be a virtual makerspace for all creative pursuits featuring weekly prompts inspired by the Summer Reading Program's weekly themes.
ENDED: Bancroft Memorial Library (Hopedale)' s Summer Reading Program (for all ages) will run from June 29 to August 7th. You may sign up here (one online form per participant).
Millville Free Public Library's Summer Reading Contest for students in Grades 2 through 5 will begin July 18th.
Upton Town Library's "Imagine Your Story" Summer Reading Program will begin on June 16th and goes through August 15th.
The Uxbridge Free Public Library's Summer Reading Program will end on Friday, August 14th. Uxbridge's program invites you to complete a weekly online log and be entered to win prizes! There are logs for families, teen and adult readers. Participants will have until 10AM on Monday, August 17th to log in their books.
Whitinsville Social Library's program is open to all ages and will run from through August 22nd. Call the Library at (508) 234-2151 to schedule prize pickup!
✿ Children Across America in Milford is offering a Summer Reading and STREAM Club for children ages 4 through 9 from July 13 - August 31st. Sign up online via https://www.childrenacrossamerica.org/what-we-do/summer-stream-club/, call (508) 933-8915, or email info@childrenacrossamerica.org.
✿ Other summer reading programs offered this summer include:
-Chuck E. Cheese offers a "Reading Rewards Calendar" certificate/coupon where kids may earn 10 free play points , with a purchase, if they read 14 days in a row (in English and Spanish) through Dec. 31, 2020 (other details apply). NOTE: Chuck E. Cheese has closed in our area.
- New England Patriots Summer Reading Blitz offers a "“Read Between The Lines” Summer Reading Challenge presented by JetBlue" for ages 5 through 18 years through August 31st. Participants must log in 1,000 minutes reading and submit their log in by noon on September 1st, in order to receive two Patriots 'Hall of Fame presented by Raytheon' passes, a certificate, and a bookmark, as well as be entered to win other prizes. There are also another six challenges that the students may do to be eligible for another prize drawing (source).
-"Read with Malcolm" (Mitchell)'s READCamp is a "virtual training camp" for summer reading for students in K through 12 which will run through September 7th, 2020.
-The Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza allows kids to log their reading in order to donate books to other children in need (in English and Spanish). It ends on September 4th.
-The New York Times Summer Reading Contest will run from June 12th through August 21st, 2020 for students aged 13 - 19 years (if they are not attending college yet). The Times will post a writing prompt every Friday which students may write a response to. The "prize" is that some students' writing will be published on 'The Learning Network'. Students will be able to access any referenced articles for free.
[Note: all programs are subject to change/revision this summer]
BONUS TIP: Have you seen the fun DIY furniture fort meme from IKEA? [Here's a link via Adweek.com]
The most important thing when it comes to summer reading is consistency, so find what works best for you to keep your kids “in the books” for at least a few hours each week. You’ll be glad you did when school starts up again!
See also:
Tips to Establish a Summer Reading Routine
Audiobook Suggestions for Kids
Updated: August 16, 2020
Editor's Note:
Some content above was updated from an article that was previously published in 2018, "3 Reading Contests for Your Kids to Take Part in This Summer" by Kara Murphy, Macaroni Kid Publisher, Erie, PA.
