By Sarah Griffiths, Principal of Yas American Academy, one of Aldar Education’s Academies

As the school year draws to a close and the summer holiday approaches, students eagerly anticipate days filled with reuniting with friends, embarking on new learning adventures, and exploring new talents. However, amidst the excitement, there’s a challenge that parents and educators face: maintaining reading habits during the long summer holiday. Without regular practice, students may experience a decline in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall literacy.

In order to prevent students from experiencing what we call the “summer slide” and to smoothly transition into the next school year, it’s essential to strike a balance between allowing our children to enjoy their vacation and ensuring they continue to engage with books.

Become a Reading Role Model

Demonstrate a love of reading by regularly engaging in reading activities yourself. Let your children see that reading is a valued and enjoyable pastime. If they see you enjoying books, they’ll be more inclined to do the same. Early exposure to books enhances language development and sets the foundation for a lifelong love of reading, benefiting academic and personal growth.

Establish a Reading Tradition

Building a strong reading tradition is essential. Make reading a regular part of your family activities. Set aside dedicated time for reading, whether it’s before bedtime, after meals, or as a cozy afternoon activity. Consistency helps make reading a habit.

Designate a comfortable and well-lit reading corner in your home where your child can relax with a book. Add soft cushions, good lighting, and a few favourite books to make it inviting. To address the challenges of short attention spans and distractions, it is important to create a quiet, technology-free reading space as well as setting achievable reading goals and celebrating milestones to maintain motivation.

Discuss Books Together

Engage in conversations about the books your child is reading. Ask questions, share your thoughts, and encourage them to express their opinions. Through conversations about literature, you invite your child to reflect on the deeper meaning of the story and its relevance to their own lives. This fosters a deeper appreciation and understanding of literature.

Discussing books exposes your child to a diverse range of vocabulary and language structures. Encourage them to use descriptive language to articulate their thoughts and opinions, thereby strengthening their communication skills and linguistic proficiency. By asking thought-provoking questions and challenging your child to support their interpretations, you stimulate their critical thinking. Lastly, sharing your thoughts and opinions about books creates a special bond between yourself and your child.

Build a Diverse Library

Ensure that your home is stocked with a wide variety of books covering different genres, topics, and reading levels. Offer choices that cater to your child’s interests and preferences, whether they’re into mystery, fantasy, science fiction, or non-fiction subjects like animals or history.

Visit your local library or bookstore together and let your child select books that catch their eye. Encourage them to explore new genres and authors, expanding their reading horizons. A diverse library not only keeps reading fresh and exciting but also exposes children to different perspectives and experiences.

Utilize Audiobooks

Incorporate audiobooks into your child’s reading routine. Audiobooks offer flexibility, allowing children to enjoy stories while engaging in other activities. Additionally, listening to audiobooks helps develop listening skills, vocabulary, and comprehension, making it a valuable literacy tool.

At Yas American Academy, we continuously collaborate with our parent community to identify and address any reading difficulties a child may encounter. Through shared efforts, including the creation of personalized reading plans, we establish a collaborative approach to overcoming reading obstacles. Our teachers and librarians enrich the reading experience for children daily by incorporating interactive elements like expressive storytelling with diverse voices and gestures. Ultimately, this synergistic partnership between educators and parents enriches children’s literacy skills and fosters overall academic achievement.