Keeping the Reading Habit Alive This Summer
If you're in the UK, the summer holidays are just around the corner.
I'll be honest — I'm feeling that familiar mix of excitement and a tiny bit of anxiety this year. It's the first time I've had quite so much to juggle with work… but I'm also really looking forward to slower mornings, longer days, and a bit more time just being with the children.
The "Summer Slide" Is Real
You might have heard teachers talk about the "summer slide." Over a long break, with no reading at all, children can lose a real chunk of reading progress — some studies say weeks, others months. I've seen it every September of my teaching life. You could always tell who had picked up a book over the holidays and who hadn't.
But this isn't about doing it perfectly. It's just about keeping the habit going.
Five minutes here and there is enough:
✅ A quick read before breakfast
✅ A story at bedtime
✅ A book in the car that gets picked up now and then
A Little Summer Present
As a little summer present to celebrate all the wonderful sunshine we've been enjoying, I've made something for you!
Best wishes, and let me know how they get on!
Miss Mabel
P.S. — For Little Ones Still Learning to Read
If your child is still learning to read, five minutes of phonics a day over the summer makes a real difference. Five minutes over breakfast, then off to the paddling pool.
It's exactly what we built The Phonics App for — a calm, simple way to keep reading ticking along over the holidays.