Sonward Youth Programs

by Miss Kim

If there’s one thing I could encourage every parent to do this summer, it’s this: read with your child every single day.

I don’t mean pulling out the dictionary or buying expensive workbooks. I mean finding a book, any book, and sitting down together, even just for 10 minutes. On the couch, on the porch, in the car while you wait for practice to end. Wherever you are, let stories be the bridge.

Because when we read with our kids, something shifts.

Kids who read in the summer don’t fall behind when school starts up again… they stay sharp. Their vocabularies grow. They return in the fall more confident, more capable, and more ready. And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: they behave better too. Reading helps them regulate their emotions, think before they act, and make better choices. It settles their spirits and grows their hearts.

Reading together builds trust and connection. It’s a quiet way to say, “You matter. I’m here.” And in the safety of that space, kids open up. They ask questions. They laugh. They learn.

You don’t need a big plan. You just need to begin.

Here are a few ways to start:

• Pick a short book to read after lunch or before bed.
  
• Let your child choose books that interest them, even if it’s the same one over and over.
  
• Use the time to talk: What did you like? What would you have done differently? How did that character feel?
  

And if you need books, there are plenty of free options. Take a trip to the library. Or stop by one of the Little Free Libraries in New Kensington, there’s one right outside City Hall and another near the Habitat for Humanity store. Let your child pick something that sparks joy, and maybe drop off a book for the next reader too.

And here’s even better news: any child involved in the Sonward Summer Lunch and Learn will be able to borrow books all summer long. We’ll keep the shelves stocked and the stories flowing, because reading shouldn’t end with the school year.

Here’s the truth: when we make reading magical, we set our children up for lifelong success. Kids who discover the joy of stories carry that light with them into every classroom, every challenge, and every chapter of life.

Make it a routine. Make it yours. And watch how it changes not just your child, but you, too.

This summer, let’s turn pages instead of turning on screens. Let’s grow readers. Let’s grow hope.