Free Summer Reading Log Printable & Ideas for Kids

I have a sweet summer treat for you today! Its a free summer reading log printable! Before we dive into the freebie, let’s reflect a bit. . . School’s out, the sun is shining, and it’s finally time for some well-deserved summer fun! But while everyone’s enjoying popsicles and pool days, there’s one sneaky thing we can’t ignore: the summer slide. That’s when students lose a little bit of what they worked so hard to learn during the school year. This phenomenon, where students lose some of the progress they made during the school year, can have a real impact on future learning success. 

Fortunately, preventing summer learning loss doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fun! In fact, with the right activities, you can keep young minds sharp while embracing all the joys summer has to offer. Whether through virtual adventures, planning a summer road trip, creative hobbies, or fun reading challenges, there are countless ways to make summer a time of growth, curiosity, and exploration. There are so many fun things to explore and see during that lovely summer vacation!

With a few simple (and fun!) activities, you can help kids stay on track while still making the most of their summer break. Let’s jump in! (And be sure to grab your free printable summer reading log below!)

Here are 8 ways to stop the summer slide:

1. Virtual Field Trips

There’s no doubt that students love to explore. There’s also no mistaking their love for the virtual world. By combining those two worlds, you have the all-powerful virtual field trip. Not only are they fun, but students can learn a ton without the cost of travel and admission fees. Why not have your kids explore a new place each week? They can go on a learning adventure at the Statue of Liberty, explore Hershey’s Chocolate World, or even walk through the San Diego Zoo! 

2. Explore a Hobby

If your child has expressed an interest in a new area, such as making videos, collecting rocks, or learning about dinosaurs, this is a great opportunity to help him develop important research skills. Have him check out a book on the topic from the library or do some online research and then create a project around the new hobby.

Ten popular hobbies for kids are chess, gardening, cooking, hiking, crochet, film-making, basketball, playing guitar, magic tricks, and drawing. The best way to learn a new hobby is to just begin! Stop the summer slide in its tracks with fun activities like these! 

3. Complete a Fun Reading Challenge:

Kids love a good challenge! A reading challenge is no exception, especially if there is some sort of reward, like a night at the movies, in place. Print out this FREE Summer Reading Challenge Sheet and summer reading log printable and get started today!

The summer reading challenge is the perfect way for helping kids to find different ways and settings to enjoy a new book during the summer months.

The summer daily reading logs are a great way for keeping track of the books, the book title, amount of time, and number of pages your child is reading during summer vacation.

Both the challenge sheet and reading logs are included in the free download, and are a huge help in keeping a love of reading alive during summer break!

Keeping kids reading all summer long is super important because it helps them hang on to the skills they worked so hard to build during the school year. Without regular practice, it’s easy for reading ability to slip below their current reading level, making the start of the next school year a lot tougher. Plus, summer reading can be way more fun—kids get to pick their own books, dive into stories they love, and even discover new hobbies and interests along the way. It’s simple way to get a win-win!

Here are a few helpful, low-stress ideas to help encourage summer reading:

• Let them choose! Kids are way more excited to read when they get to pick what they’re reading—graphic novels, joke books, magazines, chapter book, picture books, you name it.
• Make it a family thing. Create a cozy reading time where everyone grabs a book (even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day).
• Start a summer reading challenge. Set fun goals with small rewards like a trip for ice cream or picking the next family movie night.
• Mix it up. Try audiobooks during car rides or listen to a story together while hanging out outside.
• Visit your local library. Local libraries often have awesome summer reading programs with prizes, games, and events.
• Enroll in a summer reading program. Often schools and libraries will host a summer program where young readers can meet their summer reading goal. Elementary students benefit from tracking the specific number of books, title of the book, and a list of books they’ve read in a daily reading log and turning it in with parent initials. A little incentive can go a long way!

4. Plan a Road Trip

While children sometimes have the opportunity to go on a road trip, they rarely get to be in on the planning of the adventures. By allowing your child to do some research on a destination spot and help plan out the details, she will become more invested and interested in the trip.

Get a ready-made printable Plan a Road Trip Project and let it guide your kiddo through the steps of planning all the details! Have her read online reviews such as which hotel to stay at, which museum to visit, or where to have the best burger on the road and weigh in on those decisions.

5. Cook a Weekly Meal

Cooking a weekly meal is such a fun (and sneaky!) way to keep kids learning all summer long. Start by letting your child pick out a recipe—they’ll practice decision-making and even a little research if they’re hunting online or flipping through cookbooks. Set a budget and have them make a shopping list, helping them practice math, reading, and critical thinking skills as they compare prices at the store. Then comes the cooking itself, where they’ll follow step-by-step directions, measure ingredients (hello, fractions!), and manage time to get everything ready. 

Depending on their age, they can also take the lead in setting the table and serving the meal, building independence and confidence. Plus, by the end of it all, they get the satisfaction of seeing everyone enjoy something they made themselves. It’s a perfect blend of real-world learning, life skills, and delicious family memories! 

Here are a few easy, kid-friendly recipe ideas you could suggest for the weekly cooking activity:

• Taco Night: Kids can choose their favorite fillings and assemble their own tacos. It’s easy to prep and customizable for picky eaters.
• Homemade Pizza: Start with pre-made dough or flatbreads, and let kids pick their own toppings. Great for practicing creativity and measurements.
• Breakfast for Dinner: Pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad are simple and fun for kids to cook (plus they love the idea of “backwards day!”).
• Pasta with a Simple Sauce: Teach them how to boil pasta and whip up an easy tomato or butter sauce.
• DIY Sandwich Bar: Set out different breads, spreads, veggies, and proteins, and let kids create their own custom sandwiches.

Each of these ideas is easy to adapt to different age and skill levels—and they make cooking feel like playtime!

6. Set up a Makerspace

If you’re not familiar with Makerspaces, you are missing out! In a nutshell, a Makerspace is a place where students create, invent, tinker, explore and discover using a variety of tools and materials. They are a HUGE opportunity for creative exploration and problem-solving. Why not set one up in your home? Gather cardboard, gadgets, old appliances, tools, and any other supplies you may have on hand, and let your child’s imagination get to work! Here is a great article on 4 Easy, Budget Friendly Makerspace Projects. Trust me, kids love this kind of activity.

7. Make a Movie 

Let’s face it. Kids today are quite tech-savvy. They love taking selfies and videos. Why not turn that love into something productive? Encourage your child to create a movie based on his favorite book? Then, your family can have a viewing night, complete with delicious, buttery popcorn! What a perfect time to make family memories!

8. Ten Minutes of Review 

While I would never advise a parent to have their child sit for hours working on math problems or reading questions, I do think that just 10 minutes a day is more than reasonable. A little bit of review each day can go a very long way in helping to stop the summer slide. I’ve created Summer Slide Packets for students leaving 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade. They are perfect for 10 minutes of review each day. Just print, add to a folder, and you’re set for the summer!

I created these summer review packets to make it easier for teachers and parents alike. The pages were designed to be fun and engaging for students, while helping them to not lose the concepts they learned during the school year.

All student pages are in black and white, to save you ink when printing! And of course, all answer keys are included!

At the end of the day (and the end of the summer), summer is all about balance—kids can soak up the sunshine and keep their brains buzzing with just a little effort. Whether it’s diving into a few good chapter books, playing educational games, or getting creative with projects, there are tons of easy ways to sneak in some learning without it feeling like “school.” Keep it light, keep it fun, and come fall, everyone will be ready to hit the ground running!

Happy Summer Reading!

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Have a truly wonderful summer!

Shelly Rees