SUMMER

PROGRAMS 2025

SUMMER

PROGRAMS 2025

Six Ways to Get Your Kids Reading

We all know that our kids should read over the summer. It keeps their minds active, engages their imaginations, and gives them something to do that does not involve a computer or TV screen. Some kids will read because they love it. But how do we as parents encourage the rest of them? Here are a few ideas:

  1. Allow them to pursue their passion.
    Whether that is fiction or non-fiction, help them find material on the topics that they love. My son is a Star Wars, Halo, and Gears of War fanatic, but I know he loves fantasy/science fiction. Last summer I handed him The Sword of Shannarah by Terry Brooks and told him to read one chapter. He read about eight of the books before school began. My daughter, on the other hand, is a nonfiction animal fanatic. While she has a bunch of Animal Ark books, I’m thinking about getting the Ranger Rick magazine for her.
     
  2. Don’t be too picky about what they read.
    I have to be careful with my son because he’ll head over to fanfiction.net and read Star Wars stories all day. There are some good writers on there, but there are also horrible writers. I insist that he also read some professionally written and edited books so he doesn’t pick up bad grammar habits. He’s old enough to understand and agree.

    Just remember the goal is for your child to read. Who cares whether it is an internet site, newspaper, magazine, book, comic strip, letters from relatives, or the back of a cereal box? 
     

  3. Set a goal.
    This has to be done carefully by age and reading levels, as well as the personality of your child. A common goal is to read a set number of books, but in my daughter’s case this won’t work. At eight years old, she has a sixth grade reading level. If I set a goal by number of books, she’ll just read books that are easy for her to get it done quickly. So instead, I might set a goal of how many minutes per week, and/or I might hand her a huge book like Harry Potter.
     
  4. Have rewards.
    This doesn’t have to be huge and expensive. Have an ice cream social if everyone meets their goals for the week, and talk about what you’ve read. Maybe only one person met the goal–let him or her be the one choose a movie to watch that week. Take everyone for a trip to the dollar store and let them pick out one item as a prize. Have a campfire and roast marshmallows or go to the playground.
     
  5. Set a good example!
    R-MA Librarian Elizabeth Rogers says, “I have noticed that many times both as a parent and as a librarian, children or teens will respond to my enthusiasm for reading.  They see me reading, become curious and want to try it for themselves!  Also, reading a wide range of materials, especially young adult literature, helps me be able to make a recommendation that will be suitable and interesting for that particular child or teen.”
     
  6. Stick together.
    If no one met the goal for a week, spend a little family time reading a book together.

Happy reading!
 

 

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