Summer has arrived! Now's a great time for children to take a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle of the school year and enjoy some quality time with family and friends. At the same time, summer provides a valuable opportunity for parents and caregivers to help their children sustain and strengthen their literacy skills.
Research shows that children who read throughout the summer typically demonstrate stronger fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills compared to those who don't. Furthermore, reading with a child for just a few minutes a day can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for the child and their parent or caregiver. As children read and explore a wide range of topics through books, they develop a genuine love for reading that can last a lifetime.
In Worcester, families and caregivers have access to a range of summer programs, events, and resources — read on for more information.
Level Up at the Library This Summer
The Worcester Public Library (WPL) SummerQuest reading program is underway! Through SummerQuest, children and adults can read, play, and earn fun prizes this summer.
Get started with SummerQuest by picking up a game board from any WPL location. Or download and print a game board from the SummerQuest website.
The game board takes children on a magical journey through Library Land where they advance from space to space by completing activities such as:
- Saying hello to a librarian
- Checking out a book from the library
- Reading in a park
Children can complete one game board per week. Each time a child completes their board, they can claim a prize from the library's prize box.
There is also a SummerQuest challenge board available to teenagers. With this board, teens earn Chance tickets by completing activities like:
- Attending a teen library program
- Playing a board or card game
- Going on a walk or hike
Each Chance ticket can be redeemed for an instant prize or an entry into a prize basket drawing at the end of summer. Teens who complete their entire board earn two additional Chance tickets and a goodie bag of school supplies (while supplies last).
Adults can complete a SummerQuest challenge board to earn a WPL tote bag. Additionally, adults who attend an in-person adult library program and submit a raffle ticket to WPL staff can win a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.
SummerQuest runs through September 1. Visit each WPL branch this summer to collect special edition WPL stickers and explore all your local libraries!
Looking for a Good Read This Summer?
Check out these SummerQuest reading lists with WPL staff picks:
- Staff picks for children and their families
- Staff picks for teens
- Staff picks for adults
- Staff picks for games & gaming in fiction
Unsure which books your child will enjoy? We've put together a list of 10 types of books that children can enjoy with parents, guardians, caregivers, and teachers.
Worcester Public Schools (WPS) also provides school summer reading resources by grade to students and families.
Read and Earn Free Baseball and Hockey Tickets This Summer
Through the Worcester Family Partnership (WFP) summer reading program, families can log their reading and earn free tickets to Worcester Bravehearts and Railers games.
WFP is also hosting StoryTime on the School Bus in August. More details about this exciting summer reading event will be available soon!
Furthermore, WFP will continue to host its playgroups this summer at the following times and locations:
- Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. at 130 Leeds Street
- Thursday at 9:45 a.m. at Main South Community Development Corporation at 875 Main Street #1
- Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at a different park each week
- The first Saturday of the month at the University Park Farmers Market, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon at 965 Main Street
You can also find WFP at the Out to Lunch Festival and Farmers' Market frequently this summer, says WFP Coordinator Beth Vietze. This festival is held every Wednesday at the Worcester Common Oval from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through August 20.
Put Children on the Path to Academic Success This Summer
Family Services of Central Massachusetts (FSCM), which has been providing support, guidance, and services to families in the greater Worcester community for over 135 years, offers a Summer Literacy Initiative (SLI) to help prevent summer learning loss in children entering grades 1-4.
Now in its sixteenth year, SLI incorporates scavenger hunts and other entertaining activities aimed at encouraging children to "read and stay strong with reading and writing," says Leslie Baker, FSCM's Program Director for the Center for Childcare Careers. "It's a tremendous positive for kids to learn reading and writing in a fun environment," Leslie notes.
Since the summer of 2010, up to 90% of children participating in SLI have avoided summer learning loss, according to FSCM. "Our teachers come back year after year to this program because this program fills their cup," Leslie points out.
In addition to SLI, the Worcester Education Collaborative (WEC) supports families and children through Raising Readers Together, a citywide literacy initiative. WEC provides parents and caregivers with the best strategies to help their children improve their reading skills during summer and beyond, including:
- Read together regularly
- Discuss the books you read
- Participate in volunteer reading programs and other literacy-focused activities and events
WEC also provides family resources for raising readers together that you can access year-round.
Make Reading a Top Priority This Summer
Stay up to date with the WPL's events calendar for information about the exciting summer reading events and activities for children and adults in Worcester.
Join the Worcester Family Partnership weekly email list to stay updated about Family Literacy Nights and other summer reading events and activities. Contact Beth at vietze@worcesterschools.net to sign up for the weekly email list.
Edward Street proudly supports Worcester Public Library, Family Services of Central Massachusetts, Worcester Family Partnership, and other local organizations in their efforts to help children in Worcester become better readers.
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