Summer Reading for Bilingual Children: Tips and Resources

Summer is an ideal time to encourage children to explore new stories and develop their language skills. As speech therapists, specialized educators, teachers, and speech therapy assistants, you play a crucial role in developing the language and communication skills of the children you work with. Here are some practical tips to promote reading and a love of books among the families you work with.

Why Reading is Crucial During the Summer

Summer offers a valuable opportunity for children to enhance their reading skills in a less structured setting than the school year. For bilingual, multilingual, and non-native English-speaking children, it is also a chance to practice and improve their proficiency in the languages they are learning. Here’s how you can help families maximize this summer reading period for bilingual children.

1. Create a Multilingual Reading Environment

Encourage parents to create a reading space at home where books in multiple languages are easily accessible. This reinforces the connection between languages and promotes regular exposure.

Example: Suggest that parents set up a cozy reading nook with a bookshelf containing books in both English and their home language.

2. Integrate Reading into Daily Routine

Suggest parents incorporate reading times into their children’s daily routine, whether it’s before bed, during meals, or after outdoor activities.

Example: Advise parents to read a short story at bedtime in both languages to make it a nightly ritual.

3. Recommend Age-Appropriate Books

Guide families on books suitable for their children’s age and interests. Stories that reflect various cultures and languages help children feel represented and engaged.

Choosing Books by Age

0-3 years: Choose board books with simple, colorful images and short texts in the languages children hear daily.
4-6 years: Look for picture books with short, engaging stories. Bilingual books are particularly useful for this age group.
7-9 years: Introduce more complex stories with chapters. Encourage reading in both languages to foster comprehension and vocabulary enrichment.
10 years and up: Offer age-appropriate novels with varied themes and encourage reading diverse literary genres.

Wordless Books

Wordless books are a valuable resource for families whose home language is a minority language. They allow children to tell stories in their own language, using images as a guide. This enhances their narrative understanding and their ability to express ideas in multiple languages.

4. Use Online Resources

TD Summer Reading Club

The TD Summer Reading Club is an excellent resource. This free program offers a wide selection of books in multiple languages, making it a valuable resource for bilingual or multilingual families.

StoryWeaver

StoryWeaver.com is an incredible platform offering quality books in 23 Indian languages and many more. Celebrating 20 years of Pratham Books, StoryWeaver continues to facilitate access to engaging, multilingual stories. Encourage families to explore these free resources and enrich their collection of digital books.

5. Create a Reading Calendar

Help parents create a reading calendar for the summer. This can include themed days, family reading projects, or reading challenges to keep children engaged.

Example: Suggest a weekly theme, such as “Adventure Week,” where children read adventure stories in both languages.

6. Share Reading Experiences

Encourage parents to read with their children in all the languages they speak. Sharing stories in each language strengthens language skills and creates shared memories.

Example: Recommend that parents take turns reading pages of a bilingual storybook in each language.

7. Organize Virtual Book Clubs

If possible, organize virtual book clubs where children can connect with other children and discuss the books they read. This can be especially beneficial for non-native English-speaking children looking to improve their English skills.

Example: Set up a monthly Zoom meeting where children discuss a selected bilingual book.

8. Encourage Creativity

Encourage children to write their own stories or draw illustrations based on the books they read. This not only develops their reading skills but also their creativity.

Example: Suggest a drawing contest where children illustrate their favorite scenes from a story and share their drawings in the book club.

9. Value All Languages

Ensure parents understand the importance of valuing all the languages spoken at home. Reading and telling stories in each language helps children develop a rich and positive linguistic identity.

Example: Encourage parents to keep a journal where the family records new words or phrases learned in each language.

10. Provide Additional Resources

Share lists of recommended books, links to digital libraries, and resources like Pratham Books’ Donate-a-Book, which helps build libraries for children worldwide.

Conclusion

Encouraging diverse and multilingual reading during the summer helps children maintain and develop their language skills in a fun and stimulating environment. Don’t forget to highlight resources such as the TD Summer Reading Club and StoryWeaver to offer families valuable and accessible tools.

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Summer Reading for Bilingual Children: Tips and Resources