Summer reading is one of the best ways to keep kids’ academic and social skills sharp and school-ready even as they are enjoying being out of school. As a parent, you may wonder how to get your kids started on summer reading and motivate them to keep going. We have gathered some tips and resources below to help you keep your kids reading all summer.
GET READY: Motivate your kids for summer reading.
To help get your child (and yourself) excited about summer reading, you can start a family reading challenge.
Or make a game out of reading with Reading Bingo or a Reading Treasure Hunt.
There are a number of online resources that have all sorts of materials to get kids excited about reading like Scholastic’s Home Base summer reading program
GET SET: Pick out your reading materials
There are so many great choices for reading out there: fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, magazines. Help your child choose the reading materials that look the most interesting to them.
And don’t forget audiobooks. Listening to books has many of the same benefits as reading them and can be a great way to get young readers started.
We know that books can be expensive. Luckily, there are a number of resources for low- or no-cost books.
READ!…all summer long
Help your child get the most out of summer reading. Keep up with what your child is reading. Ask them to tell you about what they have learned and what they liked or even what they didn’t like. Who is their favorite character?
If your child isn’t in school yet or isn’t reading for themselves, take time to read to them. There are all sorts of skills that your child learns when you read to them that can help them get ready for school. For example, you can help them to practice active listening skills, and they can learn about feelings and how to get along with others. And if you don’t have time to read to your child every day but want them to get the benefits of daily reading, there are some great alternatives, like online books!
There are also a lot of great resources for activities that parents and kids can do to keep learning going even after you have finished a book.
Remember, that the most important thing about summer reading is to make it fun. Relax and enjoy the time that you spend reading to and with your kids!
