Getting your child to read every day is a popular topic for parents. Educators estimate that kids should read at least thirty minutes a day outside of classrooms. When summer hits, educators and parents alike seem to panic.
Research suggests that kids can lose up to one grade level in reading from not working over the summer. Scary! As parents, we tend to panic more because not that responsibility falls on us. We search the internet for ideas to get them reading, we visit the library, we buy books, etc.
Sometimes it doesn't have to be complex. It can be something simple to get a child to read. Here are a few simple ways to get your child reading.
Move back bedtime
Kids love staying up late and summer time is the perfect time to let them get away with it. You have to have a condition, though. We allow my son to stay up thirty minutes past bedtime as long as he is reading in his room. He thinks he is getting away with something, we know he is getting the required summer reading in. We figured he would stop being so enthusiastic about it after a few nights, but chances are by then they are hooked into a story.
Read in the car
The great thing about getting your kids in the car during the summer is that they are trapped. Long trips or even short trips can be good opportunities to get some reading in. If you turn off the radio, kids will gravitate towards the books in the car for entertainment. Sometimes when I am not driving, I may even pick up a book to read to the youngest one as we drive. Audio books are also great in the car especially ones that alert little ones to turn the page with a beep or sound.
Enlist them in the kitchen
Pull out or buy a kid's recipe book. Have the kids make dinner. Having to read a recipe is reading and a good skill to have. It also incorporates writing if you have them write a grocery list to take to the store. Math is also used while measuring ingredients.
Have a reading night
As families, we all have movie nights. Why not do a family reading night? Pop some popcorn and enjoy the quiet. You can take turns picking out books or you can pull out the sheets and make pretend tents.
I know summer is almost over, but it is never too late to play catch up before school starts! There are tons of articles on the internet with tips and tricks to keep kids reading. I hope these tips are more realistic and can help even the busiest of families. If you have any other suggestions, please leave them in the comment section below.
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