How To Get Your Kid To Read During the Summer

HOW TO GET YOUR KID TO READ DURING THE SUMMER

By Aquarius Cain

Yes, summer is here and many kids are reluctant to pick up a book and read. If you're like most parents, your child has summer reading assignments that are due the first week of school.  So, how do you get them to read when they strongly believe that their brains should rest the entire summer?

You could always threaten to get them a tutor or that they won't get to go on the family vacation.  But that's just mean! Here are a few ways to engage your child in reading during the summer.

1.      Visit the Library

Take the kids to check out a book and have them read daily. Most libraries have summer reading programs that are lots of fun too! Get a Free Family Pass to the Zoo by taking a trip to your local library and encourage their reading by rewarding them with a trip to the Zoo. See details about getting your FREE family pass by clicking on the link Zoo AtlantaFamily Pass.

2.      Bond by Reading Together

Set aside time either around breakfast or bedtime for you to read as a family. You can either choose a book to read together aloud or simply pick your own books and have quiet reading time to bond. Afterwards, you can talk about some of your favorite parts of what your read.

3.      Be Creative - Use Technology

Kids love technology and computers. So meet them where they are with reading -- allow them to read on the computer, IPAD, tablet, or any other electronic device that they enjoy. My son is 3 and loves my tablet. I downloaded some apps from the market that read aloud to him. The stories are very animated and colorful and he loves it! I took him to Jump 4 Joey one day and he didn't want to jump in the inflatables, he wanted to READ The Three Little Pigs on my tablet. TRUE STORY!
o    Great Appfor Ages 2-8
o    Interactive Reading for Ages 8-12

4.      Have a Reading Challenge

Try some positive reinforcement to kick-start the reading process. Make a list of five or 10 books you and your kids can read at the same time, and create a chart to keep track of how far you're both getting. Whether it's two pages or 200, any progress is progress worth noting. Barnes and Noble is also offering a FREE BOOK to encourage reading throughout the summer. Students should read a total of 8 books and record it on a reading log. Barnes &Noble Reading Program

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/_74/#ixzz20GmRlNIP

5.      Let Them Choose

Allow the kids to choose what they want to read. Loosen up a bit and understand that there is more to read than books. Comic books, magazines, news articles, cereal boxes, game directions, and much more is on the internet to read.

Kids and Children Magazines

Teen Magazines

6.       Be Adamant and Consistent 

Children can smell weakness!  Mean what you say and say what you mean.  Make it clear to your children that reading is important, first by modeling it. 

Stress your expectations and set clear, realistic, and well defined goals with incentives and consequences for meeting or not meeting those goals.  A good example depending on their skill level is to have them read 10-30 minutes each day.

Be adamant about them continuing to read daily even when they resist or when you don't feel like "fighting" with them about it.  Know that the first time you give in, gives them the ability and power to persuade you to give in again.  Be strong!

Be consistent with having them to read.  Try not to flip-flop with your decision to have them reading daily--giving them a "free pass" every other day sends mixed signals about the importance of reading.  By establishing a daily reading pattern and sticking with it, regardless, kids become less resistant because it has now become a habit to read.  They will also begin to enjoy it and see the value of reading.