Literacy group works to curb ‘summer slide’

Within the next few weeks, school will close for the summer. After the pencil boxes and backpacks are put away, many children experience learning losses, according to the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), a nonprofit organization based in Waterbury. The phenomenon is known as “summer slide.” For low-income children with limited access to enrichment activities and reading material, summer can bring significant learning losses compared to their peers, the foundation said.

Through its Summer Readers program, CLiF will support 3,700 Vermont and New Hampshire children at risk of growing up with low literacy skills over the summer months.

CLiF partners with social service agencies, summer nutrition programs, summer camps for children from low-income families, summer schools and other community programs that serve children at risk of growing up with low literacy skills. CLiF’s Summer Readers program provides a professional storytelling presentation and brand-new books: every child is invited to select two books to keep from a wide variety of high-interest titles selected by a panel of children’s librarians and educators.

“Nearly two-thirds of low-income families do not own any books at home for their children, and too few participate in reading-related activities over the summer,” said Duncan McDougall, CLiF’s executive director. “CLiF is trying to help fill that gap by allowing children to attend inspiring literacy and storytelling presentations and then select high-quality books they can keep.”

In 2013, CLiF’s Summer Readers program reached 3,351 children throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. The nonprofit projects it will grow by 10 percent to reach 3,700 children in 2014.

For more information about Summer Readers, visit clifonline.org.