Summer Reading Ideas for Kids

Summer Reading Ideas for Kids

These summer reading ideas for kids will help your kids avoid the dreaded summer slide!  I LOVE the relaxed paced of summer!  But I also know months away from learning and especially reading truly does result in a slide back in progress.  One of the simplest ways to avoid this is to simply make sure your kids are reading each week!  So today I am sharing a few ideas that have helped us keep the reading going during the summer months. 

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Summer Reading Bookmark

The first strategy we are using this summer is to use these summer reading bookmarks!  For us each circle represents 20 minutes of reading.  When they have completed 20 minutes, you can hole punch or x out the circle.  I told my kids if they get the entire bookmark done they can have a whole week of no morning chores!  That is a big incentive in our house!!  I am also going to give smaller rewards for each line completed going down.  They can stay up 15 minutes later,  get extra TV or technology time, or have a no chore day!  You can use whatever rewards work for your kids.  And for younger kids you could replace the 20 minutes with books you have read together too!

Special One on One Reading Time

Another way we have made reading time more rewarding is to have special one on one reading time together.  A few summers ago I picked a special chapter book with each of my big kids for the summer.  Each day I took turns and read a few chapters with one of my kids.  They loved having this special time with me without any siblings interrupting them, and I loved that they are getting reading practice!  And some of my best memories in my childhood are curling up next to my mom as she read us a chapter book.  As my kids are a little older this year, I am planning a group read aloud time after lunch.  We are going to start with the Fudge book series because I know even my pickier boy likes these books!  Making reading a part of curling up together and building relationship also makes your kids feel more responsive to the idea of reading!

Reading Before Bed

My kids will do just about anything to avoid sleep.  And when it comes to reading I use that to my advantage!  I let my big kids read before they go to bed at night. All of them got clip on bed lights and they are allowed to read before they go to bed.  I really think their reading abilities have grown from just this one simple option.  When I was growing up, I remember on Sunday afternoon my mom would give us the option to rest or read.  Of course we always chose to read because who wants to rest as a kid?  Make reading an attractive option compared to sleeping or resting!

Audiobooks

Ok, I know this one isn’t exactly having your kid practice reading themselves, but it can help your kids get hooked on a series or an author that they may be interested in reading themselves.  We love to listen to audiobooks during lunch.  In past summers we have listened to the Wizard of Oz and BFG.  Audiobooks can also provide a great opportunity to practice exploring other literacy skills like plot, setting and characters.

Read with a Treat

My husband is also great at reading with our kids too.  He read the whole Little House on the Prairie series to our kids at night over hot chocolate.  Or you can take your book outside and read with smores by a campfire.  Or grab a popsicle and read around the kitchen table.  The possibilities are endless! 

So however you choose to read this summer, I hope you enjoy those special moments with your kids.  

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