The term “summer slide” refers to the process of kids falling behind in reading while they’re out of school for the summer months. But according to the expert reading tutors at New York City’s Reading in Preschool, not only can you avoid summer slide—with the right practices, you even can get your child ahead of their grade level in time for the fall.

Here, they share their top tips for keeping your children reading all summer long, giving them a huge advantage when the school year begins:

• Let Them Choose: Let your child choose their own reading material. By giving them the power to choose materials and topics that interest them, they’ll see that reading is fun and feel like they’re in control. Even magazines or comics are great if they keep kids reading, so don’t limit them to traditional books.
• Challenge Without Overwhelming: Education is about challenging yourself, but books that are too hard will frustrate your child and make them associate reading with failure. However, books that are too easy might not help them develop their skills. Instead, choose books that are only slightly challenging—this will create a sense of success and accomplishment once they finish their book. For help choosing books at the right level, talk to your child’s reading tutor or teacher from the previous school year.
• Make It a Game: Join reading programs at the library, set up a reward system as your child finishes books, or find other ways to turn reading into a game. Kids who don’t already like reading might need a little extra push for it to feel fun and to help them feel motivated.

Aside from consistent reading, one of the best ways to avoid summer slide is by enrolling in programs with experienced reading tutors. In the New York City area, Reading in Preschool has a proven track record of turning hesitant young readers into major bookworms. Give them a call today at (917) 723-1159 to learn more about their play-based philosophy, or visit them online to find out more about their teachers.