Rain, rain go away... we don't want to wash our summer away!
It's another rainy day here in Indiana, and that means being stuck inside all day. Aside from watching TV or playing on electronics, what can we do to keep the kids entertained! For us- reading is a go to! My son loves to read, and my daughter loves being read to. I'm pretty lucky in that respect, but how do you encourage summer reading in kids who DON'T like to read?
Today I'm sharing a few tips:
Find Something That Interests Them.
Simple enough, right? My son Shaun is a fantastic reader... but he can be rather particular when it comes to book selections. I am always on the lookout for books that will catch his attention. Take whatever your child loves, and find as many books as you can on the topic! When he started reading, it was all about trains. These days he loves anything with humor. Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are his absolute favorites!
Comic Books... Are Still Books!
Reading is reading. So encourage your child to read whatever they like best! Billboard signs, newspapers, closed captioning on the TV... these helped my son grow his learning skills long before we found books to hold his interest! Comic books are an ideal way to keep kids who may not otherwise be interested in reading interested!
Make Reading an Experience.
Take whatever it is your child is reading and make an experience out of it! Make fun crafts to go along with the book. Check out this post on our Captain Underpants puppets. Reading Green Eggs and Ham? Find a recipe for... you guessed it, green eggs and ham! Or have a whole Dr. Seuss Day! Make it fun beyond the pages!
Reward Them For Reading.
Who doesn't love being rewarded for their hard work? Kids are no different! Check your local library to see if their offer a summer reading program that allows them to earn prizes for their time spent reading. Nothing local? Create your own reward system! It doesn't have to be anything fancy, maybe just collecting money for the ice cream truck for time spent reading!
Let Them Read What They Like.
My son was an advanced reader, teaching himself to read when he was 2. By the time he was in first grade, even kindergarten he was more than capable ability wise to read chapter books, but up until very recently (and even still on occasion), he would still read picture books like The Magic School Bus--- or even chapter books that were well below where he was capable-- like Junie B Jones. It took me a little bit of time to realize that what was okay! Let them read what they WANT to read, the rest will come later!
Lead By Example.
Perhaps this played a role in my children's reading habits--- they see me reading all the time too! We have shelves full of books to choose from, and its just always bee a natural part of our lives.
Do you have a child who loves to read? What tips would you share for encouraging that love of reading? What are some books or series that you would recommend?
All wonderful tips! Reading can be so fun :)
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