As parents, we know that reading is important to our kids’ academic success. However, how in the world do we get our kids to read during the summer? After all, there’s the lure of electronics, water play, sports, and so much more. A lot of kids are hesitant to read, looking at it as too hard or a chore rather than a pleasurable experience.
I got you! I’m a former college writing teacher and a big believer in the benefits of reading. My four kids, ranging from a 13-year-old to a preschooler, all love to read. I’m here to bestow my tips upon you, so that your kids will spend this summer enjoying books too.
Set a daily reading time
Schools often implement something called DEAR: Drop Everything And Read. You can do this in your home, too. Choose a time each day when your kids aren’t hungry or overly tired. I recommend after some outdoor or gross motor play and a meal or snack. Set a visual timer, or an amount of time that’s reasonable for your family, get cozy, and read. Fabulous reading spaces can be a living room rug, a porch, or even a fun space, like under the dining table with a pillow. Making reading a routine part of your day establishes the habit.
Hit up the library
The library is a magical place, and best of all, it’s free. Allow your children plenty of time to explore various book options, including audio books. Librarians can help your kids choose books that interest them, as well as help them place orders for books. Many libraries have free summer reading programs where kids can log their reads and earn prizes. There’s also the option of summer programming, like storytime with same-age peers.
Don’t be picky
One of the worst mistakes parents make is nit-picking what their kids read. Telling your child they are “too old” to read a board book, for example, discourages them from making their own choices and learning new things. Unless a book’s content is highly inappropriate for your child, let them try it out. My 5-year-old likes checking out graphic novels like her older siblings. She can’t read a word of it, but she likes exploring the silly, colorful illustrations.
Board books, comic books, graphic novels, chapter books, and audio books all count toward reading! Don’t forget about magazines. An option I love offering my kids is to show them the movie version — when that’s available — of the book they read. You can schedule a family movie night and show the film that's based on the book as a reward for reading it first.
Read at bedtime
Yes, in addition to your daily reading time, read to your kids at bedtime. Don’t forget to include your older kids in this experience. Let your kids take turns choosing the book. Listening to someone read can be soothing, as well as helping kids comprehend audibly. Another option is to listen to a book as a family while chilling out in your PJs.
Offer rewards
Everyone likes a prize, right? For my older two kids, for every four age-appropriate books they read and write a one-page book report on, I buy them a book that costs $10 or less. They are absolutely loving it. My fourth grader is currently earning a $10 book for every 10 books he reads aloud to me. I love the idea of rewarding reading with a new book — which, of course, just encourages more reading. Whatever reward you choose, make sure it’s fun and attainable.
As a former teacher, so many of my students expressed how much they hated reading and writing. I often wonder if they had had more encouragement to do so, including by exploring materials that interested them, maybe they would have felt differently. It was hard for me to convince young adults to fall in love with books — so it’s important that parents start now. Give your children the opportunities to learn that reading can be enjoyable and educational.
