It’s summertime! One thing I’ve always stressed with my kids is summer reading. Although I must admit, sometimes it’s a challenge to get my kids to read during the summer.
But while I know the value of breaks, I also know my kids. Those sweet little ones would happily sit in front of their screens all day long if I didn’t challenge them or change things up from time to time.
Reading is so important to everything they’ll ever do in their lives, that I want them to get excited about books this summer. This year, we’ll be using books as a way to celebrate our time off of regular school.
5 Ways to Get Your Kid Reading This Summer
1. Make a reading summer bucket list
In the past, we have made summer bucket lists of things we want to do by the end of the summer, and we’re getting ready to make a new one for this year. This time, we’ll be adding in lots of reading opportunities like:
- Spend time reading in a tree.
- Read bedtime stories in a tent in the backyard.
- Visit a bookstore, pick out a new book, and read it in the coffee shop with cocoa.
2. Read books from different genres
Make a chart with different genres of reading material on it and challenge your kids to read from each of the different genres throughout the summer. Some to include are:
- Animal fiction
- Biography
- Mystery
- Wordless books
- Fantasy
- Nonfiction
- Poetry
- Humor
- Realistic fiction
- Science fiction
- Adventure
- Historical fiction
- Folk stories
3. Throw a book party
Have a few friends read the same classic with their kids as you plan to read with your kids. Throw a themed party to celebrate and discuss it.
Set out cards to start conversations about the story, its characters, and its setting, and then pull the cards, taking turns answering questions and talking about different points while you eat snacks around the table.
4. Do an author study
As a family, choose a favorite author and read as many books by him or her as you can throughout the summer.
At the end of the summer, have a movie marathon of films made from books written by that author.
5. Become an author
Challenge each of your kids to write, illustrate, and bind their own books. Consider asking other families to do the same.
Then, throw a reading celebration where everyone has a chance to read their books aloud.
These are just a few ideas to get you started encouraging your kids to read a lot this summer. What are some of your creative ideas for raising young readers?
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By contributing writer Colleen.
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