Why kids “forget” reading in holidays (and why it’s normal)
During long breaks children often shift routines and spend more time on play and screens. This change reduces the daily micro-practice of reading sounds and words, so fluency dips slightly — not because skills vanish, but because practice becomes irregular. Treat this as normal: short, frequent reminders rebuild the muscle quickly without pressure.
The summer rule: short + frequent beats long + rare
When structure is low, short daily beats work best. Fifteen minutes a day keeps skills active and is easier to fit into holiday life than long sessions. Frequent, playful practice builds habit and avoids burnout; remember habit > intensity in summer.
The 5-day weekly rhythm (2 review, 2 new, 1 reading party)
A simple weekly beat keeps variety and progress: two days of review of known sounds, two days of gentle introduction to a new pattern (blend or digraph), and one day to celebrate with a reading party.
Week 16 plan (7 days, 15 minutes/day)
This seven-day plan stays light and consistent. Each session is 15 minutes: a short warm-up, focused practice, and a tiny reading or game.
Day-by-day (exact)
- Day 1 — Warm-up + review (15 min): Quick sound flash (5 mins), 8 decodable words (7 mins), 3-minute reread trick (3 mins).
- Day 2 — Review blends (15 min): review two blends (fl, tr) with cards and 6 short words.
- Day 3 — New digraph intro (15 min): introduce one digraph (sh/ch) with sound hunt and 6 practice words.
- Day 4 — New long vowel pattern (15 min): short game to hear long vowel vs short (cake vs cat) and 6 practice words.
- Day 5 — Reading party (15 min): choose a decodable page or short book and do a 3-minute reread trick.
- Day 6 — Mix & games (15 min): two quick travel games (see list) and a 5-word sprint.
- Day 7 — Choice day (15 min): child picks favourite activity from the week and reads aloud.
What to review (sounds, blends, digraphs, long vowels) — simple checklist
- Single sounds (m, s, t, p) — quick 1-minute flash.
- Blends (bl, tr, st) — practise 4–6 words each.
- Digraphs (sh, ch, th) — sound hunt + words.
- Long vowels (a_e, i_e) — contrast short vs long.
Games that travel well (8–12 games for car/park/home)
- 1) Sound hunt — spot words with a target sound on signs.
- 2) I Spy phonics — “I spy something that starts with s.”
- 3) Two-word challenge — say two words with the same blend.
- 4) Rhyme race — find a rhyme for the chosen word.
- 5) Syllable clap — clap out syllables in park objects.
- 6) Story stitch — make a 3-word sentence using a decodable word.
- 7) Speed read — 30-second flash of simple words.
- 8) Draw the sound — sketch something that makes the sound.
- 9) Memory match — decodable word cards face down.
- 10) Car karaoke — sing a simple decodable chorus.
Decodable reading routine (how to pick books + 3-minute reread trick)
Choose books where most words are decodable for your child’s level (look for simple predictable patterns). The 3-minute reread trick: child reads a short page once, you give one specific praise, then read it again for speed and confidence — this builds fluency and enjoyment fast.
Troubleshooting (resistance, boredom, mixed levels with siblings)
Resistance: reduce to two words and celebrate (“Two words and done!”). Boredom: change the activity (game, car, park). Mixed levels: pair siblings for storytelling roles (one reads, one acts) or use levelled cards so each child has achievable practice.
Done checklist + Week 17 grammar assessment teaser
- I practised sounds for 5 minutes.
- I did one 3-minute reread.
- I played one short phonics game.
Finish with a quick praise line: “Nice — you read those words clearly.” Week 17 will offer a gentle DIY grammar assessment to track progress.
Sample 15-minute session breakdown (minute-by-minute)
0–2 min: warm-up sounds (quick flash). 2–7 min: focused word practice (5 words, decode and blend). 7–10 min: short book or page read. 10–12 min: 3-minute reread trick (read again for speed). 12–15 min: wrap with a game or praise.
Parent scripts (“Two words and done!”)
Short scripts keep practice snappy: “Two words and done!” “Let’s read one short page and stop.” “Good — that was clear; one more time for fun.” Praise specifically: “I liked how you sounded the ch in church.”