Photo by Saverio Truglia for TIME
During the lazy, hazy days of summer, between the pool, video games and everything in the middle, children risk losing a significant portion of what they learned during the previous school year. While some children have access to resources to curb their summer reading loss, many, unfortunately do not. Without activities to keep these children’s minds sharp, they risk falling behind in school and beyond.
In Time Magazine’s “The Case Against Summer Vacation,” author David Von Drehle argues that students should have access to a school’s resources all year long so that children who cannot attend summer camps or educational field trips retain their knowledge. If the school year were extended over the summer months all students would have equal access to resources, preventing summer brain drain for all children, regardless of income.
First Book’s mission addresses one of the most important factors of literacy-access to books. By giving books to less privileged children First Book hopes to lessen the learning gap between low-income children and their higher income counterparts. If you know of a community which could benefit from First Book resources, please visit our website at www.firstbook.org to get them registered, or consider donating to First Book. Every $2 helps bring a new book to a child who needs it most!