How Many Books Should Kids Read Over the Summer?

This post may contain affiliate links.

Summer Slide is a real thing. If kids don’t practice, regression and loss happens. (Just like working out!)

And get this —  46% of tweens are reading less than 4 books over summer vacation!

That’s not very much. Especially when reading skills get lost without practice.

What number would be better?

What if your kids had lots of opportunities to read? What if they got to visit the library once a week and find good books? Could they read a book a week? Or two?

Time + books = lots of books read!

How many books should kids read over the summer

A new survey of American parents with tweens in grades 4-8, commissioned by Sylvan Learning, found that while 51 percent claim to be concerned about summer learning loss their kids spend significantly more of their free time playing outside (30%), playing video games (17%) and watching TV (18%) than reading (12%).

Maybe we’re forgetting to prioritize reading.

Summer Reading Tips from Sylvan Learning

  • Let Kids Choose:  Instead of requiring kids to read the classics over the summer, let them choose a book they are interested in reading.  According to parents surveyed, 65 percent said that letting the child choose the book helps get him or her interested in reading it.
  • Rewards Can Work:  So many of today’s popular tween books are also movies, and a trip to the movies can be a great reward for finishing a book. Forty percent of parents said watching the movie after the book helps get their kids excited about reading.
  • Find out what their friends are reading:  Forty-six percent of parents said their child gets interested in reading a book because their friends are reading it.  According to parents, the most popular genres among tweens are:
    • Humor (e.g. Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
    • Fantasy (e.g. Harry Potter series, Percy Jackson series)
    • Action Adventure (e.g. Holes, Hatchet)
    • Science Fiction (e.g. A Wrinkle in Time, 1984)
    • Books Made Into Movies (e.g. Divergent series, The Giver)

Sylvan Learning Mom Minded Blogger

The Sylvan Learning’s Mom Minded Blog provides lots of helpful tips and ideas for engaging your kids in learning this summer. You’ll be impressed with the depth and breadth of their blog. And, you’ll see a familiar face there — me! I’m writing for them now!

I received  compensation for this post, however all thoughts and opinions are mine. Please see my disclosure policy here. 

Don’t miss these book lists:

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One Comment

  1. I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this website.
    I really hope to view the same high-grade content from you in
    the future as well. In truth, your creative writing
    abilities has encouraged me to get my very own site now 😉