Primary News

WOW! This term has flown by, who can believe it is nearly holidays already!! The school holidays are a time for everyone to wind down and switch off. However, research shows during school holidays students’ literacy levels can decline by as much as 20 per cent.

While play and relaxation are an important focus for students during the break, encouraging them to read during this time will mean it’s easier for them to pick up where they left off when they return to school.

Tips on Holiday Reading

Be a good role model

Take time to relax and read with your children. Let them see that you make space for the joy of reading in your busy day, and so should they.

Provide access to great reading

If you aren’t sure of what titles to suggest or buy, check with your child’s teacher, the school or local librarian and, if you are lucky enough to have one, ask your local bookshop.

Make regular visits to the library, check out the local Vinnies Op Shop and the street libraries.

Bring out the books you loved as a child. Books don’t date as quickly as fashions in clothing and hairstyles. The classics never go out of style.

Share a book to double the joy

If your child is a reluctant reader, or even if they aren’t, read books together. A shared book can be as bonding as a family trip, outing or movie with very little cost outlay and no queuing.

For a family novel, read a chapter each night of a series such as Deltora Quest.

Or show a child how special they are, by reading about a special child such as Rowan of Rin.

Quarantine time for reading

To create spaces in the long empty days that only reading can fill, set a ‘reading only’ time in the last 30 minutes before lights out or establish device-free times each day or have a device-free day each week.

Increase the status of reading

Talk with your children about the books you are reading and the ones they are reading. Discuss books at mealtimes, humorous short pieces by Andy Griffiths make a tasty dessert.

Start a holiday book club with parents and children, where the reading and discussion of a book is followed by a treat related to the book. Eat peaches after James and the Giant Peach, make chocolates after Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, watch the film of the book or just have water play or a bike ride after reading any book.

Capitalise on the value of audio books

Listening to books may not build up fluency, but it will expand children’s vocabulary, general knowledge and enjoyment of books.

In the car, especially if you are travelling to a holiday destination, listen to a reading of a classic book you can all enjoy. Audio narrators have such elaborate ways of presenting stories that they are entertaining for the whole family. Make use of the free Borrow Box app from your local library.

Show your children how even tedious chores such as room cleaning, car washing, or potato peeling are never boring when accompanied by an audio book, perhaps with headphones.

Encouraging your children to read throughout the holidays will avoid a possible slide in progress. Even more importantly, it will support the development of a lifelong love of books, opening your children to a world of enjoyment and knowledge.

Taken from AISNSW