3 ways to read more this summer

There are lots of ways to spend the summer and reading is just one of them. If you want to read more this summer than you have been, here are three choices that have helped us read more during the summer. 

1. Set A Goal

Last summer as we were sitting around talking about summer plans, Sophia announced that she was going to read 100 books over the summer. I thought the goal was crazy but didn’t want to crush her enthusiasm so made this book stack printable to keep track of all the titles she read.  

We ended up tracking all our reading and read over 200* books as a family during the summer of 2020. While it is much easier to read copious amounts when a pandemic has shut everything else down, summer still feels like a great time to read for the fun of it. Setting a big goal is not nearly as important as the choice to set a goal in the first place.

Our experience last year highlighted why my usual ‘read more this summer’ goal is not effective. Unlike the ambiguous ‘more’ goal, Sophia’s goal fit most of the characteristics of a SMART goal. It was Specific, Measurable, Actionable, unReasonable, and Timely. (Clearly even an unreasonable goal can work, but SMAUT is not nearly as helpful as an acronym so I guess we can stick with setting SMART summer reading goals.)

So, if your summer reading has not been living up to your hopes, consider setting a goal for this summer.  

Remember that a goal does not need to be a number of books. Some other kids of goals include reading from different genres, total minutes reading, or a daily habit goal.

*for context, it might be good to know that at least two thirds of this total was picture books

2. Identify your challenge

I have heard many book lovers insist that we all make time for what we want and reading more is just a matter of making reading a priority, but I am convinced that the divide between our stated goals and actual reading habits is more complicated than that.  I think the challenges fall into at least three categories: reading ability/style, time to read, and what to read.

• Reading Ability/Style:

For young kids and early readers, the huge effort that reading takes is a barrier to independent reading and enjoyment. For others, learning style factors in to why reading can be a challenge.  Mister Brown is an avid reader but learns best when he hears the text rather than looks at it. 

If reading ability is an issue, try wordless books, audio books or read aloud videos. 

If learning style is an issue, try expanding your definition of what counts as reading to include audiobooks, graphic novels, comic books and picture books. 

• Time To Read

Finding time to read is a real challenge. If you only can read when you have a book in hand and an uninterrupted stretch of time, then reading with young children in the house can sometimes feel impossible. 

If time to read is a challenge, try blocking out time in your calendar, reading shorter form works like magazines and articles, or reading audiobooks. I have so many friends who are apologetic about their audiobook habits and feel like its doesn’t count so will keep saying, reading audiobooks is real reading.

For our kids, we think about finding ways of protecting their time to read. There are two main ways we do this right now. The first is making sure they have an early enough bedtime with the option to read in bed if they are not tired. The second is including a quiet hour in our summer afternoons.  They ditched naps long ago but we have a quiet hour most days so I get a break and they get a chance to read, create, or sleep without feeling like they are missing out on something better. 

• What To Read

Sometimes your biggest challenge might be related to finding a book that you actually want to read. One of my sisters has said for years that she is just not a reader.  Then, recently, she came across a book she enjoyed and realized that she has probably just been reading books that were not interesting to her and assumed something was wrong with her rather than that she was reading the wrong kind of book. 

Reading for fun is hard if you are feeling uninspired by your options. If you are feeling stuck on what to read, try browsing a different section of the library, reading a genre you haven’t tried, or unapologetically re-reading an old favorite. 

Read Aloud Revival has great book lists for kids. For adults, I have found this podcast and this website to be helpful when I am feeling stuck in a reading rut.

3. Read Together

If setting a goal was what got our family started with summer reading, and identifying our biggest challenge helped us find better solutions, then reading together is how we ended up doubling the goal that I thought had been crazy to begin with. 

Reading picture books together or a good novel aloud is great, but I tend to prefer reading together during the summer in ways that free me up rather than that require that I do all the reading. Here are just a few of our favorites:

Audiobooks are one of our favorite ways to read together as a family. They are perfect for passing the time on a road trip without sending the whole time playing paw patrol on repeat.  When the day starts feeling like it is going sideways, a snack tray, pile of play dough/clay/legos, and an audiobook helps us all reset. 

Book clubs are another great way of reading together.  Last summer Sophia read Paddington with her Nana and then had a virtual book club meeting with scones and marmalade.  We recently listened to Adventures With Waffles on a road trip and invited family over for a waffle party to celebrate. 

Your Turn: 

What is your goal for summer reading? We would love to hear your goal, your biggest challenge to reading, or what book you plan to read first. Leave a comment below or send us a message on Instagram or Facebook.