It’s summer, do you know what your kids are reading?
Choosing the Right Book
The start of summer vacation is a great time to kick back and relax, but it’s also an important time to find a good book for your kids to get absorbed in. It’s important, therefore, to be aware of the books your kids are reading, especially during summer when they have ample free time.
Next to reading with them, it’s the most crucial way parents can help their children develop a love for books. Camp Good Sam in San Antonio is one institution that takes summer reading seriously, and strongly believes in promoting literacy among kids during summer vacation. What’s better, the program is completely free, and all the more engaging with themes – Harry Potter, this season!
Tackling Summer Slide
Amanda James, director of youth and teen services at Good Samaritan Community Services which oversees Camp Good Sam, has spent her career understanding literacy and the importance of regular reading.
Prolific in her views, she strongly calls out the summer slide, saying, “If you don’t practice actively reading or actively participating in math, then you’re going to lose those skills. They tend to slip very quickly.”
Ensuring Bexar County is Future Ready
With local agencies and Up Partnership pooling in significant financial support, the aim is to prepare tomorrow’s youth and ensure Bexar County is future ready. The camp insists its attendees to read for at least 30 minutes each day, thereby ensuring that kids do not only have fun indoors and outdoors, but also keep their cognitive skills sharpened and ready for the next academic year.
A Foundation for Life
James underscores the importance of reading skills in everyday life. “Being able to read really puts a foundation on everything else in life. Reading is going to help you with job applications. Reading is going to help you succeed in whatever you decide to do,” she said.
The Long-Term Impact
While the short-term benefits of reading regularly over the summer are evident in improved vocabulary and stronger cognitive skills, being an avid reader can also have long-term impacts on a child’s life. It can instill a lifelong love for reading and learning, positively impact college readiness, and even lead to more career opportunities.
What can Parents do?
Parents play a crucial role in their child’s reading habit. Other than ensuring that their kids have access to books that they enjoy, parents can also set a good example by regularly reading themselves. But perhaps the most significant role that a parent can play is to introduce their child to the world of books and nurture a joy for reading from an early age.
That’s the strategic vision that drives Camp Good Sam and other similar initiatives – inculcating the love for reading among children during the carefree days of summer, and putting them on a path of successful learning journey.
Credit
The article is based on reports by Patty Santos and Alex Gamez. Patty Santos is an experienced journalist with a keen interest in societal aspects. Alex Gamez, an adept photojournalist, brings to life tales through his captivating visuals.
