16 ways to get your kids reading this summer
Reading over summer break is critical to keeping your child's literacy skills on track for the fall. Need some ideas?
Keep it fun and simple by choosing favorites from this list!
Cheat sheet version here for FREE at Teachers Pay Teachers
1. Visit your local library. Libraries are a treasure-chest of opportunities, such as story time events and a summer reading program. If your child is motivated by prizes, they might really like a summer reading challenge (even better when you don't have to set it up)!
2. Establish a flexible, daily reading routine. 15-20 minutes a day is a good summer goal. Work it into the natural rhythms of your day, such as during bed-time, before a favorite show, or on the car ride home from soccer practice. You can also check out my post about making a fun reading space: Your kids can also read outside!
3. Family Story-time. Maybe you've heard the phrase -- how do kids spell love?
T-I-M-E.
My son and I love snuggling up together with a good book. Books often encourage fun conversations about the world around us, and I can see the wheels turning in his mind as he learns new things. It's also one of best ways your child builds their vocabulary. *If English isn't your first language, I'd strongly encourage you to read to your child in your native language as well. I'll post more about this later, but research strongly supports this practice.
4. Write to a favorite author
If your child has a favorite book or series, they could reach out to their favorite author. How special if the author writes back!
For advice on how, check out this helpful article by Scholastic:
5. Read a book and watch the movie together. Does your child have a favorite movie that happens to be a book? For example, you could read the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe together and then watch the movie. It's great opportunity to talk about what's the same and what's different in the story-telling. Does your child prefer to imagine the character and scenes in their head or would they rather watch them?
6. Read a play & make paper-bag puppets (Reader's Theater)
My 2nd graders loved this activity every spring! Your child may also enjoy making a puppet of a favorite character from a play. All they really need is a paper bag and markers, but there are many websites with more fun, elaborate ideas:
https://frostingandglue.com/paper-bag-puppets/
You can find plays at the library or printable scripts online: https://teachables.scholastic.com/teachables/genre/plays-and-readers-theater.html
Your child may also enjoy coming up with their own variation of a familiar story. The possibilities are endless!
7. Read books online (for FREE) with Get Epic!
Sometimes a fresh way to read does the trick! I appreciate that this site offers lots of options for different ages and reading levels. Some books have an audiobook and "Read to Me" option that highlights the words to help your child read along.
8. Sign up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for kids 5 and under. A free book is sent to your child every month: imaginationlibrary.com.
9. Play word games like Hangman, Scrabble, Banagrams, and Boggle.
10. Build words with alphabet magnets or puzzles.
11. Set a personal reading goal with your child to earn prizes from you when they finish a book, such as a favorite dessert, movie night, or money for the piggy bank.
12. Read on the road-- play games reading signs, car bumpers, and license plates.
13. Check out children's magazines, graphic novels, and comic books.
14. Pick a non-fiction topic your child is interested in and research it together.
15. Find fiction books your child can't put down. Ask your local librarian for ideas or try the Scholastic Book Wizard: bookwizard.scholastic.com.
16. Collect words – Go to a local museum and write down new words. Or when your child doesn't know a word while they're reading, look it up together. Practice using sentences together.
Need a cheat sheet? Download for FREE at Teachers Pay Teachers
