Raising a child is an act of growth for child and parent. We research what’s best for our child, learn that what we have planned might not always turn out as we expected, react to changes and new situations, and learn how to communicate in new and different ways. Sometimes we wish for “magic bullet” solutions to some of our parenting quandaries.
There is one magical experience that some of us overlook. Reading. Maybe you read to your child as a baby or you were read to as a child. The simple act of sharing words and images together and connecting over the pages is an opportunity for bonding that also provides your child an educational experience. With computer games, tutors, textbooks and TikTok, we often forget about the abilities and creativity of our own minds that are activated and explored when we read a book. We can experience different countries, histories, feelings and life events through other people’s writing. 
Supporting your child’s reading, especially during the summer, can be beneficial in multiple ways. Academically, your child can build reading comprehension and vocabulary skills and boost reading fluency, with the added advantage of learning about a historical event, person or other important topic. Social and emotional benefits include learning about other people’s perspectives and thoughts, strengthening empathy and compassion, and building self-confidence through reading achievements and enjoyment. 
Helping your child read is heavily supported by your community. Teachers, school librarians and community programs all offer opportunities to support parents and kids when it comes to reading. Your community’s public library system is a free(!) source of assistance that provides educated librarians and staff to help you and your children access books and resources. Public library summer reading programs are designed to keep your children engaged and excited about reading all through the break from school. Some libraries provide live events and arts and crafts as well as prizes and themes to keep the enthusiasm rolling. 
There are two helpful tricks for parents to know regarding summer reading. The first is to let your children pick their reading material. Reading, especially over the summer, should be a fun and independent activity. According to Scholastic’s Summer Reading survey, 89 percent of children say their favorite books are ones they have selected. All reading material matters, so resist the urge to discourage graphic novels or “fun” books with lots of images. In time, your child will move on to more difficult reading material but ensuring that they enjoy their reading material is critical. 
Kids also often pick books that are out of their reading range because of the theme, a special character or because they are “cool.”  Choosing a book that is too hard to read can discourage them. A teacher trick to help with selecting appropriate books is the “five finger” test. Take the book they have picked, look at one page together and have them begin to read. For each unknown word, raise a finger. If you only raise two or three fingers, the book is age or skill appropriate. If you raise all five fingers, the book could be a struggle. Your librarians can help you select appropriate materials so that reading continues to be a joyful experience.
Summer reading can promote growth and steadiness for your child’s academic life, and it can also be an activity that fosters connection, sparks new interests or inspires their curiosity. Summer reading might just be a “magic bullet” of parenting! Be sure to visit your local library with your child this summer and enjoy the magic of reading.

Kristen Sandoval is the youth program manager for the Santa Fe Public Library system. Sandoval has master’s degrees in library science and public administration. She also has a K-8 state teaching license. Before working for the city of Santa Fe, she was a school librarian in Albuquerque. Sparking a love of reading in young children is her passion.