Top tips for creating a summer reading environment
Whether it’s a cosy corner in your living room or a special space in your child’s bedroom, creating a summer reading environment for your kids will inspire them to read and make diving into books even more enjoyable.
This helps children experience reading as a fun summer activity — like going to the pool or playing outside — rather than something they have to do for homework, in which they might log reading by minutes and pages.
“With the wide expanse of summer, you can shed some of those metrics and help your child view time with a good book like a trip to the beach, a ballgame, or a picnic,” says Karen Baicker, executive director of the Yale Child Study Centre-Scholastic Collaborative for Child & Family Resilience. “That can start by creating a cosy, dedicated space where books are an open-ended invitation to a summer escape.”
As you begin to plan and brainstorm ideas for your child’s summer reading area, here are five tips to keep in mind.
1. Capture the spirit of summer
This time of year is all about unstructured fun, and reading should evoke that same spirit of free time and pleasure. “Create a reading space that matches that carefree mood,” says Baicker. “That might be a hammock in the garden, a beanbag chair in a corner, or a rocking chair by a window.”
2. Make it comfortable
When it comes to reading, comfort is key. Pay special attention to good lighting when creating a reading environment and make the space as cosy as possible, says Baicker. Wall art and family photographs are also a nice touch, and reading forts and tents are a sure-fire way to get younger readers into the spirit of summer reading.
3. Eliminate distractions
Distractions are the bane of readers, both young and old. And summer is full of them!
“Try to create their reading nook away from the family TV and other competing interests,” says Baicker. “Avoid high-traffic, noisy areas. It’s much easier for a child to stay focused on a book when they have peace and quiet.”
4. Make books accessible
Keep high-interest books within easy reach of your child’s reading area. Don’t be afraid to mix up the types of reading materials.
Whether it’s one or two magazines devoted to your child’s current obsession or the first few books in their new favourite series or graphic novel collection, offering a little variety goes a long way when it comes to meeting your child’s reading needs and interests
5. Refresh books periodically
Throughout the summer, Baicker suggests refreshing your child’s book nook with new selections matching their interests. This way, they’ll remain engaged and look forward to reading and learning something new about the topics they love.
You can even make adding books extra special by designating a specific day during the week to introduce new reading materials, or having a family pizza night to celebrate a new book release!
Shop the best books for summer reading!
-
Wonder
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Boy at the Back of the Class
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Holes
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Explorer
Award-winning
- gbp prices
- Price: £7.99
-
The Hunger Games #1: The Hunger Games
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £8.99
-
The Iron Man
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £6.99
-
Charlotte's Web
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Skellig
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Last Bear
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £5.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Oxford Primary Thesaurus
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Noughts and Crosses
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £8.99
-
Kensuke's Kingdom
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £5.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
10books
Dog Man Pack x10- gbp prices
- Offer price: £39.99
- Rewards/RRP: £89.90
-
Voices #5: Windrush Child
Editor's pick
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £6.99
-
When the Sky Falls
Award-winning author
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
A Monster Calls (Non-Illustrated Edition)
Award-winning
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £4.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £5.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £2.99
- Rewards/RRP: £8.99
-
Night Bus Hero
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £5.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Pig-Heart Boy
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £3.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
The Nowhere Emporium
Award-winning
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £7.20
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
-
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- gbp prices
- Price: £3.99
-
The Nothing to See Here Hotel #1: The Nothing to See Here Hotel
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £2.99
- Rewards/RRP: £6.99
-
Go Big: The Secondary School Survival Guide
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £6.99
- Rewards/RRP: £8.99
-
7books
Harry Potter Pack x 7- gbp prices
- Offer price: £29.99
- Rewards/RRP: £59.93
-
Gods Squad #1: Oh Maya Gods!
Editor's pick
- gbp prices
- Offer price: £5.99
- Rewards/RRP: £7.99
Similar Posts
-
6 Strategies to Improve Reading Comprehension
As your child begins their reading journey, it’s important to make sure you’re supporting their development beyond phonics so they can become an accomplished reader.
Check out our six tips to sharpen reading…
-
How To Be a Thriller Writer, by Sarah Naughton
Sarah Naughton author of You Better Watch Out a dark, edge-of-your-seat thriller, shares her top tips on how to be a killer (thriller writer)!
-
The Best Back-to-School Essentials
Check out this list of our best back-to-school essentials to make sure your young learner is prepared for the new school year.