Parent Literacy: Impact on Children’s Success and Summer Learning

Written by Caroline Sumner, First Literacy Associate Board Chair

School’s out and summer is here! While families enjoy beach days, BBQs, and poolside fun, many parents also find themselves stepping in as summer reading teachers. For parents who struggle with low literacy, staying on top of reading during the summer months can be challenging for both the child and parent.

As many adult learners know, one of the biggest challenges students face over the summer is keeping engaged with learning. Whether it’s summer reading, math skills, or science, having basic literacy skills as a parent can make a world of difference in effectively supporting a child’s education.

When Parents Read, Kids Succeed

The relationship between parent literacy and student success is undeniable. Research shows that children of literate parents are more likely to perform better in school and develop strong reading and writing skills themselves. When parents read to their children, help with homework, and engage in educational conversations, they lay the foundation for a lifetime of academic success.

But the positive impact goes beyond just school performance—it extends into a child’s self-esteem, motivation, and emotional well-being. Children who see their parents read, write, and engage with literature are more likely to value those same activities. This model of behavior encourages them to view education as something important and worth pursuing.

Summer Break: A Chance for Family Literacy

With school out, summer presents an excellent opportunity for children and parents to explore reading together. This summer Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) will use funds from a First Literacy grant to pilot a Summer Family Literacy class. The project came to fruition after recognizing a need in the community to help parents learn strategies to support their children’s education while improving both their own reading and pronunciation skills.

The goals of the class are threefold: to help parents develop their own English skills; to teach parents how to support their children’s literacy development; and to reduce learning regression by helping both parents and children continue learning during the summer.

Educators agree that summer reading is one of the best ways to keep kids academically engaged during the school break, but it also offers a chance for parents who struggle with low literacy, to strengthen their children’s reading skills while building their own.

Here are some tips to make summer reading a little more fun for the entire family:

1. Make Reading a Family Activity: Encourage reading as a family tradition. Set aside time each day for everyone to read together.
2. Take Time to Read Out Loud Together: Parents can read aloud to their children. Reading out loud together provides an opportunity to discuss stories, answer questions, and practice reading comprehension. This not only helps strengthen literacy skills for the parent and child but also deepens the parent-child bond.
3. Library Visits: Libraries are a place with an abundance of resources that support reading and learning. Taking a trip to the library can help create a sense of excitement around books and reading, especially when you let your child choose what interests them. The Osterville Village Library on Cape Cod will use funds from First Literacy to offer Book Tastings — an immersive, café-style literacy experience where participants “sample” books and media in multiple formats.
4. Reading Can Be Done Everywhere: Parents can incorporate reading into everyday activities, whether that’s by reading road signs during a trip, looking up recipes together, or even reading a map. These simple tasks enhance the ability to apply literacy skills in practical everyday settings.

The Bigger Picture: Families Who Read Together Build Better Futures Together

Beyond the summer months, investing in literacy and continuing education impacts parents, children, families, and communities. Parents who can read and write effectively and communicate confidently are not just improving their own quality of life—they are also helping their children build a culture of learning that fosters academic and emotional growth for years to come.

Yane is a former First Literacy scholar, who graduated from Bunker Hill Community College this past May. When Yane arrived in the U.S., she was not able to speak, read or write English, but she was determined to gain English proficiency and build a better life for herself and her family.

“I believe that completing my degree has had a positive impact on my son. Last week, I took him out of school and brought him to my commencement ceremony. I hope he is proud of me. I want him to see that knowledge, or education, can bring glory to a person. I don’t know what choices he will make in the future, but I hope he will see that I am constantly pursuing higher degrees and that our lives are getting better and better. I hope my example will inspire him in his future choices.”

When it comes down to it, literacy is more than a skill –  it’s a legacy. When parents build their literacy, they’re not only opening doors for themselves but also laying the foundation for their children’s success. From stronger academic outcomes to deeper emotional connections, the ripple effects of parent literacy can shape entire families and communities for generations to come.