As the school year winds down, most families are thinking about summer plans—travel, camps, time off, and a well-earned break from routine.

For many students, that reset is important. But for children who are already behind in reading, summer can quietly become a setback if there isn’t some level of continued engagement.

We see it every year.

A student who finishes the school year just a little behind can come back in the fall further off track—not because they aren’t capable, but because they lost momentum.

The encouraging part is that it doesn’t take much to prevent that.

Summer reading doesn’t need to feel like school. In fact, it’s more effective when it doesn’t. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s consistency and engagement.

That can be as simple as finding books your child actually enjoys, setting aside a small window of time each day, and keeping the experience low-pressure. Only 15 to 20 minutes of reading a day makes a meaningful difference over the course of a summer.

One of the most important things parents can focus on is interest. When a child is engaged in what they’re reading, they’re far more likely to stick with it. And when they stick with it, confidence begins to build.

That’s something we see consistently through Project UpLift. When reading feels approachable—and when students aren’t afraid to make mistakes—they begin to improve. Not all at once, but steadily over time.

It’s also important to remember that support doesn’t have to come from parents alone. Teachers, tutors, mentors, and community programs all play a role in helping students stay connected to learning. The more consistent those touchpoints are, the stronger the outcome tends to be.

And it’s worth recognizing that the progress students make during the school year is the result of a tremendous amount of effort from educators.

Teachers—and just as importantly, principals—create the environments where that growth is possible. They identify needs, support students, and help build the foundation that programs like ours can extend. At Roots and Wings, we rely on great educators to bring our work to life every day. That’s why we take time to recognize them through our Above and Beyond Awards. It’s a simple but important reminder that the work happening inside schools doesn’t pause when the calendar changes—and that the progress made during the year is something worth protecting.

If there’s one takeaway heading into summer, it’s this: consistency matters more than intensity. For students who are already behind, small, steady effort can be the difference between catching up and falling further behind. In many cases, that difference begins with simply keeping them connected to reading.

Parents play an important role in that connection. One of the most effective ways to support a child is by helping them find books that genuinely interest them. A visit to the local library can open that door, and librarians are wonderful partners in guiding families toward books that match a child’s age and reading level. When reading becomes something a family values and enjoys together, children are far more likely to stay engaged and keep growing.

Ted Hoskinson is the Founder and President of Roots and Wings, a champion for literacy in Palm Beach County. Learn more at https://rootsandwingsinc.org.