- Summer holidays are all about slowing down, making memories, and letting kids be kids. But if you’re anything like me, you’re also quietly wondering how to stop all that hard-won reading progress from disappearing by September. I’m all for supporting kid’s literacy where I can throughout the Summer to avoid the risk of ‘The Summer Slide’. The summer slide refers to the learning loss that many children can experience over the summer holidays when they are not engaged in regular reading and literacy activities. Research has shown that children, particularly those in primary school, can lose up to two months of reading progress during the summer break.
As both a parent and a pediatric speech and language therapist, I see this from two sides.
And as a mum of three boys, I know first-hand that no two kids read the same way.
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One of my boys is an avid reader—he brings a book everywhere, reads in the car, at the dinner table, and would happily spend a day lost in a good story.
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Another has only recently started reading independently after years of reluctance. He’s gaining confidence now, and it’s been amazing to watch him start choosing books for himself.
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And my other boy. He struggles with literacy and needs lots of support—reading doesn’t come naturally to him, and motivation can be a challenge.
So when I talk about summer literacy, I’m not coming at this with one blanket solution. These are simple ideas that can be adapted to suit whatever kind of reader you have at home—whether they’re devouring novels or just getting to grips with decoding words.
1. Set a Reading Challenge (and make it personal!)
Reading challenges are a great way to keep motivation up—especially for those kids who thrive on structure or a goal.
For older kids, using Accelerated Reader (AR) points as a guide can help you set a summer target. If your child is used to AR at school, you’ll have an idea of what’s achievable for them over 6-8 weeks. You can check how many points any book is worth here and that will help you set a target. Cue me standing in the library with the kids checking every book for them to see how many points they can get 😂
You can make it feel fun, not forced:
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Let them choose the reward (a day out, new book, or in our case a jersey)
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Create a visual tracker or sticker chart
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Use ChatGPT to create AR quiz-style questions on books they’ve read… great for accountability, and honestly a bit of fun for both of you 😂
This has worked wonders with my newly confident reader—it gives him a sense of pride, especially when he can answer the quiz questions like a pro!
2. Yoto Player or Audiobooks – Great for Every Reader
Whether your child is an early reader, a reluctant one, or a confident bookworm, audiobooks are gold.
They build vocabulary, help with comprehension, and keep kids connected to storytelling in a calm, enjoyable way. They’ve been a huge help for all my boys. Audiobooks let kids access books at their language level, not just his reading level.
Our Yoto Player is a firm favourite, and for older kids, library apps like BorrowBox or Libby are perfect for free audiobook access.
They’re also brilliant for long car journeys, downtime after lunch, or calming busy brains before bed.
3. Board Games & Collectible Cards: Reading in Disguise
Not all reading has to come from books. In our house, board games are a sneaky but effective way to practice reading without anyone realizing it’s “work.”
Think:
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Cluedo – reading clue cards and suspects
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The Game of Life – reading and decision making
- Zingo – a fun one for emerging readers
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5 Second Rule, Guess Who, Scrabble Junior – all brilliant for word-level play
- Scrabble & Boggle for older kids
And then there’s the world of Match Attax and Pokémon cards—honestly, I they are literally all over my house, but once I saw my reluctant reading trying to decode character names, attacks and stats with excitement, I have learnt to embrace them! If they’re choosing to read it? That’s a win.
4. Reading Eggs (Together is Better)
If you’ve got a reluctant reader—or a child who needs more support —Reading Eggs can be a fantastic resource.
But here’s the key: Don’t just hand it to them and walk away.
Sitting beside your child for 10 minutes a day makes it feel like a shared moment, not a solo challenge and they’ll get a lot more from it.
I’ve seen firsthand how much more engaged my boys are when I’m sitting next to them, asking questions or helping them pick the next mini-game. It feels more like a game and less like “homework” which is important over the Summer holidays.
5. Visit the Library – and Join the Summer Stars Programme
Libraries are such an underused gem—especially during the summer.
The Summer Stars reading programme is free, fun, and open to all school-aged children in Ireland. Your local library will often run events, story times, and reading rewards to keep kids engaged.
Let your child browse and choose their own books—even comics, magazines, or audiobooks count. When they’re the ones choosing, they’re far more likely to stick with it.
And if you’ve got multiple kids with different reading levels like I do, the library is the perfect place to cater to all of them in one go. It’s also a great day out and lovely way to spend an hour or two.
6. Wipeable Boards, Fancy Markers & LCD Tablets = Writing Made Fun
If your child groans at the sight of a copybook, I get it. Writing can feel like hard work—especially for those who struggle with spelling, fine motor skills, or confidence.
That’s where wipeable boards/pocket, fun markers, magnetic letters and LCD writing tablets come in. These tools take the pressure off and make writing feel more like play.
Here are some easy ways to use them:
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Let your child be the “message writer” for the family each day
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Play games like hangman, noughts and crosses with words, or word bingo
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Make shopping lists, write secret notes, or create comic strips
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Invite them to label their drawings or create their own Pokémon-style character cards
This has worked wonders for my youngest—when writing doesn’t look like schoolwork, he’s much more likely to give it a go.
Final Thoughts: Literacy Looks Different for Every Child
The summer break is a perfect opportunity to build on your child’s literacy skills in gentle, meaningful ways.
And remember: literacy doesn’t just mean sitting down with a book. It’s about engaging with language, stories, and words in whatever form works best for your child—whether that’s listening, talking, reading, writing, or playing.
As a parent of three very different readers, I’ve learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. The key is to meet your child where they are—and make literacy something they enjoy, not endure.
Here’s to a summer of stories, connection, and confidence. 💛
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