1. Build it into the schedule
Start with 15- 20 minutes and build up from there. Older children will benefit for 30 minutes or more each day. I have tried a lot of different times of day and have found the most success in scheduling reading at bedtime. I allow my kids to stay up 30 minutes later if they do their summer reading. I have found they are much more willing to do this than during the day when they would rather be doing other summer activities such as swimming and playing outside. It also helps them to wind down from these busy summer days. If you’re having trouble getting your kids to read give them an incentive. For example, if they complete their reading time kids can earn a ticket, which they could then trade in for thirty minutes of “screen time.”
2. Use technology
Switch it up and explore free online literacy sites like Free Children Stories, Storyline Online, ABCya and Read To Me. Many of these sites have free read alouds which are great for the younger kids. They help build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. According to Reading Rockets , “Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents and teachers can do with children.” It is a critical component of building the foundational reading and vocabulary skills necessary for fluent reading and good reading comprehension. Storyline online provides 68 free read aloud cards that you can download and print out so your kids can easily pick a new story each day. Click here.
3. Make it a family affair
For younger children—especially those in nursery, preschool, and kindergarten—reading is usually a part of family time, where reading takes place together. Reading together helps young children not only develop their vocabulary and reading skills, but also serves as an important bonding time for most families. But older children, too, can benefit from approaching summer reading as a family. While you might not read to your middle or your high schooler, you can read “with” them by reading the same books and then taking the time to discuss them together—much as students do with their teachers in the classroom. In addition to giving parents of older children an opportunity to bond and connect, discussions also help to reinforce the key themes and ideas of the literature.
You can also set a goal for your family to read a certain amount of books or pages. When you meet the goal, you can go on a fun family outing that the kids help plan.
4. Join a summer reading program
Scholastic and Barnes and Noble have some great summer reading programs.
The Barnes & Noble summer reading program is for all ages and allows any child to pick a free book from a predetermined list of books after completing the program. Visit the store to ask for a journal to track summer reading. Click here for more info.
Check out the Summer reading program at Scholastic. Kids log their reading minutes, unlock badges, and earn rewards.
5. Have kids read everything, every day
For younger readers, make every outing into a way to encourage reading by reading aloud traffic signs, billboards, notices. Show your children how to read a map, and once you are on the road, let them take turns being the navigator. Have them read recipes to you as you cook or the directions when playing a game.
6. Pair books with activities
Read the book before seeing a movie or even after it. Find non-fiction books around activities that your child is interested in and read to learn the ‘how to’ as well as to encourage and validate their enthusiasm.
7. Let your child choose their reading material
If it is age appropriate content, don’t restrict what they read. Include graphic novels, popular books and picture books. Being too involved in the decision with what kids read will only discourage the reading habit.
