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Every single day at nap time, I would read Sandra Boynton’s One Shoe Blues to my son. Now we have an entire library of books, but this one in particular was a favorite of his and we got to know it so well, we began singing as we read it which progressed to acting it out. This is just a snapshot of how much my son loves books. School is out in 3 weeks, and I can guarantee you that we’ll be at the library every chance we get because like my 7-year-old-self, my son can’t go anywhere without a book in hand.
For most families, Summer is a time of relaxation and restoration. I’m looking forward to sleeping in and exploring all the places we’ll go this Summer. My son has been working diligently the entire school year and he undoubtedly needs a break from the stringent homework routine prescribed. But the one thing we will continue to do all summer long is read.
Admittedly, inspiring my children to pick up a book won’t be difficult. I started reading to them in infancy, and while I didn’t know it at the time, I truly believe reading aloud to my children has helped them develop a love for reading. Even the strongest reader’s skills can slide during the summer if he/she isn’t “practicing.”
Whether you have a strong reader or you’d like to improve their skills over the summer, here are 5 ways to keep your child reading through the summer.
1. Provide access to a wide variety of books. Last Summer, we were at our public library every single week to check out books and participate in the Summer Reading Events. My desire was to immerse them within our library and to show them all of the varied ways books can be used. My son has lists of required reading during the school year and in order to create excitement surrounding reading, I gave him a lot of freedom to choose as opposed to prescribing a type of book.
2. Provide incentives. Truthfully, my kids don’t require any “prizes” for reading because they intrinsically love to read. But for those children who struggle to pick up a book, working towards an experience or a new LEGO set could be just the motivation they need to read this summer.
3. Read TO your kids, even those who can read. While I’m always striving to push the limit on what my son is able to read, I know that if I give him a book that is too long or complex, he will get bored and refuse to finish it. One way I get around this is to read those same books aloud on a regular basis in small increments of time. When he hears words or concepts that may be unfamiliar to him, I can explain them within the context of the story in that moment, which helps him get excited about the book overall.
4. Encourage kids to read nontraditional books. When it comes to reading, think outside of the “book” to those that detail a specific location or attraction, those that show kids how to do something (like cooking or crafting), or those inspired by the latest films.
5. Join a Summer Reading Program. With school nearly out, it’s the perfect time to sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Through September 5th, 2015, simply register for free online and your child will be able to log reading minutes, unlock virtual prizes like and receive access to a wide variety of literacy resources. Parents can also download free printables including reading certificates, log sheets, pledges and booklists.
This Summer’s theme is Power Up & Read, and in partnership with Energizer, Scholastic has launched a weekly sweepstakes where a new winner is selected weekly to receive a Power Up & Read Prize Pack. Additionally, Energizer and Scholastic created the “Power the Possibilities” campaign which empowers families with the tools they need to unlock their child’s talents, fuel their ambitions and set them up for future success. Through October 31st, 2015, buy any specially marked pack of Energizer brand batteries and you could win one of thousands of prizes that will power discovery and learning including a family trip to New York City, a Scholastic Study Corner Makeover, a tablet loaded with Scholastic apps, a library of Scholastic books and more. When you play, you’ll also be able to download free digital stories. For more information or to enter, visit Energizer.com/win.
To sign up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, visit Scholastic.com/Summer before September 4th, 2015. You can also visit Scholastic for resources to keep your kids reading all summer long. Be sure to visit Scholastic on Twitter and Energizer on Facebook using the hashtag #SummerReading.
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Thank you for encouraging parents to continue reading with their children during the summer and offering valuable reading resources.