Summer learning activities

There’s lots of ways to join in Summer Reading, and it doesn’t stop at books. Explore summer learning activity options for all ages!

A parent wearing glasses holds a baby who has a Multnomah County Library card in their mouth at Hillsdale Library.

Engaging babies, toddlers, and preschoolers

The best way to help your child get ready to read is to read, write, sing, talk and play together every day.

Read

  • Read your child’s favorite book again and again. Kids need to hear a new word 9–14 times before they are comfortable using it. 
  • Point out letters when you read, and emphasize the sounds they make.

Write

  • When your child makes marks with crayons, paint or even food, smile, clap and ask: “Can you tell me about what you wrote?” 
  • Draw shapes on a page and invite your child to trace over them with a crayon or their finger.

Sing

  • Share your favorite music with your child. Dance together! When they’re cranky, comfort them with a favorite lullaby. 
  • Use the tune of a favorite song to sing the words of your morning routine. Singing slows down speech to help build vocabulary.

Talk

  • Talk about what you see when you are outside. A stop sign, a traffic light, or a tree might seem boring to you, but it’s a whole new world to your child, so tell them about it. Ask questions like: “What color is that sign?” or “How many trees do you see?” 

Play

  • Let children entertain themselves. Using imagination and making up games and rules encourages creativity.
  • Join a library storytime.
A child receives a prize for Summer Reading.

Engaging elementary school-age children: kindergarten - grade 5

Summer learning activities support academic growth, provide new experiences, and help narrow achievement and opportunity gaps. Try different activities so your child enjoys the game. For example: 

Here is a list of summer learning activities you can do this summer to count toward the Summer Reading game: 

  • Keep a journal
  • Learn to read animal tracks 
  • Make your own zine 
  • Create your own Dungeons & Dragons character 
  • Do a craft project made from recycled materials 
  • Learn the names of native plants in your neighborhood 
  • Have a conversation with friends or family about something super important to you 
  • Listen to a friend or family member telling you about something that is important to them 
  • Volunteer in your community 
  • Listen to a bird song 
  • Find a new purpose or use for an object before you throw it away 
  • Write a theme song for your favorite book, comic, anime, etc. 
  • Ask library staff for activity, craft, cooking, or game books for more ideas
A library patron sits in an armchair at North Portland Library while wearing headphones and looking at a laptop.

Instructions for middle and high schoolers

Summer learning builds your brain — and it’s fun! Activities like drawing, reading diverse books, painting, writing poetry, making a playlist, creating a comic book, designing your own game or fashion, creating a movie short, crafting, cooking and more all count for summer reading. Try some of these options:

Here is a list of summer learning activities you can do this summer to count toward the Summer Reading game: 

  • Write a story about the best day that you had 
  • Write fanfic or create fan art 
  • Create your own board game or code a game 
  • Sing karaoke or sing along with a favorite song
  • Watch a documentary or movie with subtitles 
  • Read to younger children, a pet or a friend 
  • Learn about Indigenous languages
  • Cook or bake something using fresh ingredients 
  • Identify native plants and birds in your community
  • Learn about an issue in your community and get involved 
  • Listen to and tell stories about your culture
  • Learn how to be an ally
  • Help an elder with their phone or computer
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