Why Singing Is the Secret Sauce to Raising a Reader (Even During the Dog Days of Summer)
But guess what? These slow, sticky days are perfect for helping your child grow into a confident, joyful reader—and you don’t need a worksheet, a lesson plan, or even a quiet house. You just need your voice.
Why Singing Builds Reading Brains
Singing isn’t just fun (although it is fun). It helps young children develop phonological awareness—that’s the ability to hear and play with the sounds in words. That’s a huge predictor of reading success later on.
When you sing:
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You slow language down
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You emphasize syllables and rhyme
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You repeat meaningful words and sounds
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You build vocabulary in a playful, memorable way
And here’s the best part: you can do it anywhere. No prep, no guilt.
Five Easy Ways to Sing Your Way Through Summer
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Turn routines into songs.
Washing hands? Make it a musical moment. “This is the way we scrub our hands, scrub our hands, scrub our hands…” -
Sing your books.
Read books written to familiar tunes (like BINGO or The Wheels on the Bus) and sing them instead of reading. Need ideas? Try Sloth, Down on the Farm, or Five Fresh Donuts—all written to be sung! -
Use name songs.
“B-I-N-G-O” becomes “T-O-M-M-Y” or “E-M-M-A” in a flash. Personalizing songs helps kids hear how letters and sounds connect. -
Make up verses together.
“The dog on the porch says woof woof woof…” Let kids lead. Creativity + vocabulary = literacy gold. -
Don’t worry about pitch.
Your child doesn’t care if you sound like Adele or a croaky frog. They care that you’re singing with them.
Free Bonus: Printable Summer Singing Chart
I made a fun printable for you—a “Summer of Singing” challenge with simple prompts to sing during playtime, snack time, or a car ride. Grab it here and post it on your fridge!
Want more musical storytime magic? Check out my TPT store for printable activities, literacy songs, and fun learning packs to keep your summer rhythm going strong.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/make-reading-musical
https://www.amazon.com/author/cassie_veselovsky
