Where Will Reading Take You? Just Ask Dr. Seuss

As a mother of three boys, I know how hard it can be to get your child to read, especially over the summer. In my house, my boys would rather play 18 holes of golf, swim with friends, or catch a summer movie than crack open a book.

But as an Educational Consultant, I have to say: sometimes it’s worth stepping into the role of the reading referee. That might mean blowing the whistle on screen time or calling a timeout for 30 minutes of reading. But it also means setting your child up for success—in school, in the college process, and beyond.

Encouraging your child to read now gives them a chance to explore ideas, develop confidence, and later, speak to colleges not just about what they’ve read, but how those stories shaped their thinking.

College essay prompts change each year, but if history teaches us anything, it’s that patterns repeat. In the past years, schools such as the University of Georgia, Columbia, Dartmouth, and Wake Forest have asked students to reflect on their love of reading. They want to see students who are curious, intellectually engaged, and self-driven, not just those who completed required assignments.

If your child hasn’t read anything outside the classroom, they’ll struggle to answer those kinds of questions in 12th grade. I’ve seen it firsthand—students staring at UGA’s prompt or Wake’s request to list their top five novels, unsure what to say.

I’m not here to hand you a secret code for college applications—because there isn’t one! But I can tell you this: regular reading builds a powerful foundation for success. Students who read consistently become stronger writers, more confident test takers, and deeper thinkers. They expand their vocabularies, sharpen their imaginations, and often feel more centered as they navigate the fast-paced, digital world around them.

So for the next few weeks of summer, step into the role of reading referee. Set a routine—just 30 minutes a day. With less than a month left, encourage your student to finish one book. Start a simple journal to reflect on it. When a college one day asks about a meaningful book (fiction or non-fiction), your student will be ready to go beyond the plot and explain why it mattered. (Thanks, UGA!)

Parenting and college prep aren’t always easy, but they can go hand-in-hand. Let reading be the quiet, powerful habit your child builds this summer. From both the mom in me and the consultant in me—I promise, it’s worth it.