How To Keep Your Child Reading Over The Summer
Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2008
by Stephany Springer
Research shows that students who do not read over the summer can lose one to three months of progress in reading. Students who do read over the summer and have involved parental support with reading can actually gain achievement in reading during the summer months. What can parents do to get their child reading when the Wii, beach, pool, friends are competing for their child's attention?
The library has all sorts of activities planned for the summer to make sure your child is reading. Most libraries have programs that trick kids into the reading world. Either they will be read to or will be doing the reading. Our library has some great authors coming to read their own books, actors acting out books, and all sorts of crafts that coincide with certain books. If you make the library a scheduled part of your week, your child will have to experience reading in one way or the other. Plus it is a great stop to the outdoor activities because it is cool and calm.
Create a Book club
Of course kids can have their own book clubs. If you don't trust your kids to have their own, create a parent/child book club. The group of children can meet beforehand to suggest the books they would like to read over the summer. They can come up with a theme or a particular author, etc. Leave it up to the kids. If the kids are younger, the group can meet each week to have the book read to them.
Make the books come alive
Have each family member pick out a summer book to read. Then the person who picked out the book can assign characters. As a family, work on a play for the book then act it out. Have fun with this: assign dad to play the old grandma, or have mom be the talking pig etc. Try to come up with real costumes. You can even invite the extended family to watch the play. Acting a story out is a great way to make a book come alive.
Add cooking to the mix
We all have heard that making green eggs and ham to eat to go along with the book really excites the kids. It is true, but can also be done with other books as well. No, I am not suggesting you eat worms or anything like that, but be creative. There are so many books out there that mention food or a great snack will coincide with the book. For younger kids, the book Summer mentions watermelon. It could be that simple. Get your creative juices flowing.
Model, Model, Model
I can't stress how important it is for your kids to see you reading. If they notice you reading instead of watching tv, studies show that they will develop a love for reading as well. So have fun with the kids and pick out your own books at the library. Bring books to the pool and enjoy a relaxing evening in the sun.
Reading can take you places far away. It can be the most stimulating part of your day. You should want your child to experience that as well. Show them the fun in reading. Don't force it on them, but let them experience it without know it.
If you had any other suggestions on how to get your child to read during the summer months, feel free to leave them in the comment section.
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