Get Your Kids Reading this Summer!

I read recently that children who don’t continue to read during summer vacation often slide back in their reading skills.  At the beginning of the next school year, teachers have to spend time reteaching skills from last year instead of forging ahead.  It’s so important to keep your kids reading this summer.  Even if they can’t read yet, fostering a love of reading is important all year long! There are many ways to keep your kids reading this Summer.  Here are a few ideas to get you going!

Get Your Kids Reading this Summer

I received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own. 

Summer Reading Programs

Check with your local library to see if they have a summer reading program.  The library in our area has a program for under 5, from 6-11 and for 12 and up.  Completion of the program earns each child a free book.  My kids love doing the summer reading programs at the library, they love putting stickers on the chart provided by the library.  For my older kids, the library has an interactive website to track reading to earn badges and play games.

Using Technology

There are some really great tools available online and on mobile devices, like an iPad. Technology has made reading a truly interactive experience.  A great example of this is the Curious George and the Firefighters app now available on iTunes.

In Curious George and the Firefighters, George and the man with the yellow hat take a trip to the firehouse, and George finds all sorts of new things to explore. When one curious monkey meets a company of unsuspecting firefighters, a big adventure is sure to follow!

Check out how amazing it is:

My 4 year old daughter Harley is able to easily navigate the pages as she listens to the story. Each page has a little icon to tap to turn the page. She figured it out pretty quick that some of the pictures did things when you tapped them. She quickly realized George always gets into trouble. My 7 year old Sophie is at the stage where she loves to read on her own, she thought it was so cool that you could answer questions and create your own scenes, with your own voice.

One of the coolest thing the app does is allow your child to record some of the words used in the story.  We had a great time laughing at recordings that didn’t come out well.  Including one where the word “Hat” mostly sounded like a cackling bird.  Sophie could not stop laughing. Even my 12 year old has enjoyed playing the app, especially when she figured out she could make George and the Man in the Yellow Hat say whatever she wanted.  It’s pretty fun listening to the stories that my giggly girls make up.

Take Day Trips Based on Books

Relate your summer excursions to books you read with your children.  For example, read a book about the zoo and then take a trip to the zoo! Ask them to identify animals that they read about in the book, or to remember facts from the book.  Reading comprehension is a huge part of the reading process. Visit a museum, then find books about what you saw.

Be excited about Reading

Children often emulate their parents.  As a parent, be excited about reading.  Make time to read yourself.  Show your children that reading is always important.  Enjoy immersing yourself in a story, or history or whatever make you happy!

 

Make this summer the Summer of Reading!  Grab Curious George and the Firefighters on iTunes today!

How will you get your kids reading this summer break?