Summer is just around the corner and summer reading programs are gearing up for kids who are out of school and for summer school students. Summer reading programs have been developed to encourage children to read over the three months of summer so that they will not fall behind when they go back to school.
A study is being formulated to test out a variation of summer reading programs in low income schools. Educators are giving their students books instead of having them attend summer school. It has been found that students in low income neighborhoods do not have the same access to books as their middle income peers. Some of these children are not able to go to the library because it would be too dangerous and may not own a single book in their entire house. This book program has been developed to encourage reading over summer, when a lot of low income students have been known to fall behind. Three months without any education can really do long-term damage over the years.
Books at home give students access to print material and encourages them to read. If your child is planning on just getting out of the house this summer to play games and plan great adventures, consider packing a book with their toys as well. Books give a child a sense that they are a reader, and does wonders for their self-esteem.