We all know that it’s important to keep our kids’ brains active and engaged by reading, and never more so than over the summer. We also know that it can be a real struggle to get them to do it! Here are 5 easy ways to encourage your child and make summer reading exciting!
Check out the Summer Reading Program at your local library.
Find out what fun goals and incentives your library is offering kids for reading over the summer, as well as what special programs they have scheduled while school is out. Often, there are lots of special storytimes, guests, and activities designed with kids of all ages in mind. Most library programs are free, too, so why not take advantage of what your local library has to offer? Our library always has a theme for Summer Reading, a way to track your progress, and some pretty awesome prizes for meeting your goals; does yours?
Create a dress-up box with pieces your child can use to pretend to be a favorite book character.
If your child has a flair for the dramatic or enjoys being active, a costume box might be a great way to inspire more interest in books. Gather items that represent various characters in some of his/her favorite stories and encourage dressing up and acting out the things he/she reads. If you’re feeling really adventurous, throw in some grownup sized things too and play along as a family. The pieces don’t have to be elaborate, just enough to get your child feeling like part of the adventure! For extra fun, you can introduce older kids to the idea of Reader’s Theater and try reading some things together as a family in that style!
Do some reading yourself! Also, choose some books you will read together.
We all know that kids are masters of imitation. They do what they see us do, for better or for worse. So, if we talk about how important reading is, but our kids never see us do it ourselves, they may pay more attention to our actions than our words. This summer, buy, borrow, or download a few books you’re interested in reading and let your kids see you enjoying them. You can even set aside a certain part of the day where you and your child both grab your book or device and read at the same time.
Make a simple craft to accompany each book your child reads.
Have an artsy kid? Encourage reading by offering to make a craft based on each story he/she completes. You can find tons of ideas for very simple and inexpensive book-based projects on Pinterest and your favorite blogs {wink, wink}.
Sign up for Disney Story Central.
Got a tech savvy kid? A Disney lover? Disney Story Central is the largest collection of Disney digital stories, featuring a wide array of beloved characters. Available via iPhone and iPad app, tablet-optimized website, and Video on Demand (AT&T U-Verse), Disney Story Central is designed to encourage kids to develop a lifetime love of reading.
There are books appropriate for everyone from pre-readers to speed readers, and when you’re signed in, you’ll get personalized book recommendations based on your skill level and interests. You can also browse by character to find books starring your favorites, including Disney Princesses, Frozen, Doc McStuffins, Cars, Disney Classics, and more.
To encourage consistent reading, there are stars, ranks, and trophies to earn as you complete more books. Once your family has an account, you can add as many reader profiles as you like, so each member of the family has his or her own customizable bookshelf. And, it’s accessible at home or on the go, so you never have to worry about lugging around or forgetting books again.
For unlimited access to Disney Story Central’s library, you can get an annual subscription for $7.99 a month. Or, if you prefer, you can get one book at a time, anytime, by using the Disney Book Token system. Tokens work like currency; each token is worth one book, allowing kids to individually choose and download the books they want most.
So, what do you think? Which of these ideas would the little folks in your life love to try out this summer?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
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