As the school gates close for the summer, often so do the minds of the pupils and skills such as reading seem to tail off over the long summer months. Teachers have noted that, compared to the achievements made during term time, there is an obvious regression shown within test results in the autumn.

This summer there are a number of campaigns to help your child keep up with their reading and literacy skills.  This year, for the eighth year running, the Reading Agency will launch Summer Reading Challenge 2009 in an attempt to curtail the dip that occurs in children’s reading habits during the school holidays.

Research by the charity shows that the moment a child drops the habit of reading regularly their literacy skills begin to plummet. The long break from term-time schedules and focus on more leisurely pursuits lead to the loss of many routines for children and reading is often at the top of the list. But the result is that children regress and take longer to settle back into the structured learning environment when they return to school in autumn.

Run nationwide alongside public libraries, the campaign hopes to inspire primary age children to pick up their books and keep reading throughout summer. This year the theme is all about the power of the imagination to embark on a fantastical adventure and become a Quest Seeker. With 90 per cent of all UK libraries participating every year and an average of 600,000 children taking part, the Reading Agency expects another year of success in promoting the importance of reading for pleasure.

The charity’s advice to parents is to schedule time both to read with their children and to encourage older children to read at least six books independently. 

For more on the campaign visit www.readingagency.org.uk

Another reading initiative for this summer is the Great Escapes, Reading for Life Campaign. The pilot project by the National Literacy Trust will partner with Haven Holidays and will be running in full at six of the biggest Haven parks during the month of August. 18,000 families who are holidaying there will each receive a free goody bag of books worth over £50, as well as access to themed entertainments and a bookswap library on site.  

For more on the campaign visit www.readingforlife.org.uk/115/

Sports stars are also doing their bit this summer to help engage kids in reading, find out more on Premier League Reading Stars.