Ah, summer. Sunny days and warm breezes carrying the sounds of baseballs hitting bats, kids riding bikes, grills being fired up…and teachers/parents/libraries collectively begging kids to read, read, READ!

Although numbers vary, one of the more recent, pre-COVID studies showed that students lose an average of 20% of learning over the summer. Other studies suggest that students lose up to two months of learning during the summer, but gain a month’s learning when they read consistently. No wonder there’s such a push for kids to read during summer break!

But what’s a kid to do when they have trouble with reading?

Students who struggle to read, such as many of those with ADHD, dyslexia or other learning differences, are at particular risk for “summer slide.” The brain acts like a muscle and it needs exercise to stay strong. Kids with learning challenges must work harder to retain everything they learned in the classroom. So, how can parents help keep their kids’ reading brains in good shape over the summer?

Make Reading Fun

For starters, let kids read what they want.

Does your kid like dinosaurs? Read dinosaur books.

Wind turbines? There must be books on that, right?

Famous athletes? Head to the nonfiction section.

This goes for different types of books, too. Even though many adults get stuck on kids being able to read long pieces of text, graphic novels and picture books are books, too. Many people with ADHD and/or dyslexia have visual strengths and will find the highly visual aspects of graphic novels more engaging (not to mention their shorter chunks of text). And that’s ok! Learning to read pictures as well as text are both parts of reading. Remember: All reading is good reading.

On that note, there are lots of ways to practice reading that doesn’t involve books. Here are a few fun opportunities:

  • Make cookies and have your child read the recipe and instructions
  • Look over the stats from your favorite sports team
  • Encourage your child to research things to do on your next vacation
  • Do a scavenger hunt
  • Read and explain the instructions for a board game
  • Help them find a play to read and perform
  • Ask them to read the grocery list at the store
  • Sit down to write a summer bucket-list…the sky is the limit!

Another way to make reading fun is to incentivize it (hello, ADHD brains!). You may find success in boosting reading with summer programs or challenges, rewards for time spent reading or helping your child pick out a new book at the store or library.

Also, look for ways to make reading novel (pun intended). The ADHD brain loves novelty, so read in a new place or a new position (reading upside down counts!). Read to a new person or to a pet. Get that dopamine firing with something new!

Play to Your Child’s Strengths

As mentioned above, many children with ADHD and/or dyslexia have strong visual skills. Reading material with plenty of vivid and engaging illustrations may engage those strengths. They may also prefer digital apps that promote fundamental reading skills. For children with auditory processing struggles, pictures or visual supplements may be especially helpful.

Some children, however, may struggle with visual development or visual tracking, or may otherwise have strong auditory strengths. Using audiobooks, read-aloud technology and digital book formats allows them to practice reading comprehension.

A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found: “The semantic representations evoked by listening versus reading are almost identical. These results suggest that the representation of language semantics is independent of the sensory modality through which the semantic information.”

In short, the same brain areas are engaged whether a story is consumed in print or in an auditory format. So, listen away! Following along in print format may also build important literacy skills.

It’s okay to do what works for your child. Any engagement with text is a good thing — it’s more likely to promote an interest in reading if it’s presented in a way that is congruent with your child’s needs.

Be a Reading Model

Last but not least, if you want your child to read, set a good example: Be sure to read yourself and let them catch you at it. Read to or with your kids. Listen to audiobooks while in the car together. When we model making time for reading, kids are more likely to follow our lead.

Reach Out if You Need Help

At Winston Center, we provide thorough reading evaluations to identify potential issues early. We’re a trusted resource for children and adults with learning challenges, including ADHD, dyslexia or dysgraphia. Additionally, our Mindful Learners academic program provides a more personalized classroom experience for students with learning struggles, creating a warm and welcoming environment to build reading skills and language development.

If your child would benefit from extra help with reading, contact us to explore treatment options.