Reading Comprehension Declining in Children
Reading comprehension and skills have been on the decline, since the Covid pandemic in 2020. The gaps in the reading abilities of young children are showing at an alarming rate. Summer is also a huge stressor on children’s learning ability. 
Sara Grochowski is the youth Librarian at George n Fletcher Library. She discusses why reading during the summer helps bridge learning gaps. “Since the pandemic, we here at the library have seen a shorter attention span from kids. They don’t know what they like or how to use the Library. Their reading stamina is low. We focus on finding the right book, for the right kid, at the right time. We also find something for them that they can have at home.”
Parents have a huge influence on their children’s reading ability. The more that a parent reads to their children, the ability for that child to excel, is higher. Reading influences comprehension. It also helps with a childs writing ability. Keeping your child reading is the biggest step in molding your Childs educational future.
Grochowski says that “One of the biggest things you can do is model reading.” She discusses the other options besides novels “You could read a magazine or a cookbook, even turning down the sound on the TV and read the subtitles.” She also emphasizes the importance of being present. “Showing kids that reading is a part of your life and it matters to you, will help them make it matter to them.” The more a child reads, the more knowledgeable they become. The summer is a time where parents can become the biggest influences in their children’s education. Be an educator for your child. Your influence can make all the difference.
