📚 Don’t Let the Summer Slide Set In: Supporting Reading Over the Break

Jun 24

As summer break rolls in and backpacks are tucked away, it’s easy to assume that learning can take a full vacation too. But for many children, especially those with speech, language, or literacy challenges, the summer months can lead to a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”

The summer slide refers to the learning loss that can happen when children are away from the structure and practice of the school year. And while all kids are vulnerable to some degree of regression, research shows that reading skills are particularly at risk, especially for students who are already working hard to build their reading fluency, comprehension, or vocabulary.

So what can parents and caregivers do?

At Sound, we believe summer should be a time for rest and growth. The good news is, supporting your child’s language and literacy doesn’t have to feel like homework. Here are a few simple, connection-centered strategies to help your child keep growing their reading muscles during the break:

🌞 1. Make Reading a Daily Habit (That Doesn’t Feel Like a Chore)

Set aside just 15–20 minutes a day for reading together. This could be during breakfast, right before bed, or while relaxing outside. Let your child help choose books based on their interests. That includes a graphic novel, comic book, or magazine. Reading is reading!

📚 2. Join SFPL’s Summer Stride 2025

Looking for a fun, FREE, and engaging way to keep your child reading this summer? Check out Summer Stride 2025 from the San Francisco Public Library! This annual program encourages families to read, learn, and explore together through reading challenges, themed activities, and fun prizes. You can log reading minutes, attend family events at local branches, and even earn a book tote designed by a local artist.
It’s a great way to stay motivated and connect with the local library community while keeping reading skills sharp.

🎧 3. Explore Audiobooks

Listening to stories helps children build vocabulary, comprehension, and attention, even if they’re not yet reading independently. Try audiobooks during road trips, quiet time, or while doing crafts. Let them follow along with the physical book if they like. At Sound we love products such at Yoto Mini and Toniebox to allow independence in picking up an audiobook and listening for themselves!

💬 4. Talk About Stories

Ask your child to tell you about what they’re reading. Try open-ended prompts like:

“What happened in the story today?”
“Would you want to be friends with the main character?”
“How do you think it will end?”

These conversations support oral language development, critical thinking, and memory…all key to reading success.

📖 5. Build In Opportunities for Functional Reading

Reading doesn’t have to come from a book! Let your child help you read recipes, maps, store signs, directions, or game instructions. These real-life tasks show how reading is useful and meaningful.

✨ 6. Ask for Support

If you’ve noticed that reading seems to be getting harder, or if your child is showing frustration, let us know. We’re here to help! Our speech-language pathologists offer support for literacy, phonological awareness, and language processing that can make a big difference, especially when addressed early.

Summer is a wonderful time to slow down, connect, and nurture a love of stories. A little consistency goes a long way, and with your support, your child can head into fall feeling confident and ready to learn.

Need more ideas or wondering if your child could benefit from support? Reach out to our team, we’re always happy to help you create a plan that keeps communication blooming all year long.

Jody Vaynshtok

Jody is a California-licensed speech language pathologist with eight years of industry and clinical experience. She has worked with both adult and pediatric populations during her time at private practice, birth-to-three, and hospital facilities. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. In addition, Jody has a passion for working with adults looking to achieve clearer communication. Jody received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences and MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was a part of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford’s cleft and craniofacial clinic participating in the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children born with craniofacial abnormalities. She holds a staff position at UCSF and is the lead speech language pathologist for the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Hearing Loss Clinic. When she's not busy having fun with her clients Jody enjoys spending time with her husband, Anton, friends and family. And if she's not headed out somewhere fun for dinner, you might find her at Bar Method working out!