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Making Summer Reading Count: Joyful Ways Families Can Keep Kids Engaged

When the school year ends, suddenly everything can look a little different for families. Mornings are slower, bedtimes get more flexible, and structured routines relied on all year begin to fade. But as routines shift, so can the consistency of everyday reading. 

Research shows that when kids are not regularly engaging with reading, they can lose up to 20% of their school-year reading gains throughout the summer months (Borman and Yang, 2025). This phenomenon is known as the “summer slide”. When time is used effectively, summer offers an opportunity for kids to grow their confidence and engagement with books. Below are a few simple ways to keep kids reading all summer and how RIF's Summer Reading Camp can help. 

What Is Summer Reading and Why Does It Matter?  

Summer reading is simply time spent reading for fun, choice, and exploration during the summer months. Reading over the summer helps kids hold on to what they learned during the school year, so they feel more prepared when school starts up again in the fall. Even a little reading each day can help build skills and grow confidence over time.  

Summer is also a great time to help kids see reading as something fun, relaxing, and part of everyday life; a life that sparks imagination, creativity, and curiosity. When kids have access to books and given time to read, they are provided with more opportunities to practice and grow. Giving kids the chance to choose books that interest them can make a big difference, helping them stay engaged and excited about reading all summer long.  

Simple, Joyful Ways to Encourage Summer Reading  

Build excitement around reading 

Make reading something to look forward to! Create a “summer reading kickoff” at home, visit your local library together, or set up a cozy reading nook. At the start of the summer, let kids pick up new books they are excited to engage in. When reading feels special and exciting, kids are more likely to engage in it on their own time. 

Make reading part of everyday life 

Reading doesn’t need to feel like an added-on activity; it can fit right into your daily routine. The goal here is consistency. Small moments of reading each day can help keep kids connected to stories and learning all summer long. This can look like reading together before bed, listening to an audiobook in the car, bringing a book along to the park, or sharing a few pages of a favorite book during breakfast or snack time. 

Give kids choice in what they read 

Providing choice is one of the most effective ways to grow a love of reading. When kids can pick books that match their interests, they are more likely to stay engaged. It’s also helpful to note that all reading counts, including comics, magazines, and audiobooks. The most important thing is helping kids feel ownership over what they are reading. 

Make reading social and fun 

Reading doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Families can read together, share favorite parts of books, or even start a simple “family book club” where everyone talks about what they’re reading. Kids can also swap books with friends or recommend titles to each other. These small social moments help build excitement and make reading feel connected and fun. 

Reading can be a bonding experience! Families can read together, share favorite parts of stories, or start a family book club. Kids can exchange books with friends or recommend titles to one another through book talks. These small interactive moments can help make kids feel more connected to reading. 

Make screen time count 

Intentional digital reading helps students access books when home libraries are limited. Audiobooks and other curated digital libraries can foster reading engagement over the summer.  These tools provide flexible learning opportunities and reduce barriers, helping kids stay motivated and continue building literacy skills throughout the summer. 

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF)’s digital library, Skybrary, offers 1,000+ eBooks (100 free) and 150+ educational video explorations (50 free) for kids. The kids reading app’s features are designed to support growing readers, including “read-to-me” narration, interactive comprehension prompts, and extensions beyond the typical read-aloud. These tools help strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and independent reading skills.  

Celebrate reading in simple ways 

Celebrating reading keeps motivation high. Kids can track their reading on a chart with stickers or fun markers. They can draw or write about their favorite scenes from the book or keep a “summer reading journal” where they write down new vocabulary words or things they learned. Families can even set up a “family favorites” board where everyone adds their favorite books they read over the summer. Recognizing reading as something worth celebrating helps children build pride in their progress and strengthens a lasting connection to books. 

How RIF Supports Your Family’s Summer Reading Journey

RIF’s Summer Reading Camp is designed to make summer reading feel exciting, accessible, and motivating for every child. The program brings the spirit of summer camp into reading, helping kids stay engaged with books all summer long.. 

Families can download free, curated resources organized by grade level cabins: Early Childhood, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Each grade band offers age-appropriate book lists, fun activities, interactive games, and reading challenges that are ready to use. Everything is designed to be simple to access and easy to build into everyday summer routines. 

To keep kids motivated, RIF also offers opportunities to earn reading badges by completing activities throughout the summer. Children can track their progress through our summer reading page and within their grade-level cabin, giving them a fun and visual way to see their reading journey unfold. 

Families can also use tools like the printable bookmark to help encourage children to read and celebrate progress along the way. These small supports help make reading feel more interactive and engaging, while encouraging kids to keep coming back to books. 

We invite families to join RIF's Summer Reading Camp, where every page opens a new adventure, and reading becomes something to look forward to all summer long! For more encouragement and practical ideas, watch RIF’s Finding Joy in Summer Reading webinar. 

Keep It Simple and Joyful 

Consistent moments with books paired with engaging activities can help kids stay connected to reading all summer long. The goal is to build joy, curiosity, and a lifelong love of reading. As you head into the summer months, find simple ways to bring reading joy into your family’s routine. Every page turned this summer helps build a lifelong reader.