Your child has a three-month break from school, and you’re afraid his brain is going to melt away in the hot summer months of nothing but playing, playing, playing. Don’t worry; he’ll probably be fine, and he does deserve to be a kid. But the best way to get him to exercise his brain during those summer months is by reading. Believe it or not, most kids absolutely love to read, but not all of them know it. If your child is resistant to the idea of reading anything that’s not a school requirement, here are some ways you can help encourage him.
Join a Summer Program
Check your local library to see if they have a summer reading program for your child’s age group. He may also be able to attend book readings, and sometimes there are crafts, other activities, and lots of new friends to meet as well. You may find summer reading programs at other places, such as your bank, which may offer cash in a savings account for reading books.
Get the Right Books
The best way to get your child excited about reading is by finding him something he really wants to read about. If he has a particular interest, like dinosaurs, take him to the library or bookstore and help him pick out a book that appeals to him. Check out Scholastic.com/thestacks for great book suggestions for all ages and of all genres. Allow your child to pick the books out, with your guidance or suggestions if needed. He’ll be more likely to read if it’s something he’s chosen.
Use the Movies
Lots of children’s movies are based on books. If your child is interested in a new movie this summer, get him the book version to read, too. If he has a favorite movie that wasn’t based on a book, find out if any have been written since its release. Sometimes books about favorite characters or superheroes will do the trick. This can work for his favorite TV shows, or even video games, too.
Make the Time
Make sure your child has plenty of time to read during the summer. On a daily basis, set aside some time that’s dedicated to reading. Allow him some time to check out books on his own, even if he’s just looking at pictures, and also spend some time reading to him. Reading a book every night is a great habit. You can even read content-appropriate novels, a few pages at a time. Soon hearing the next part of the story will be one of his favorite parts of the day.
Be Supportive
Don’t pressure your child to read. If you push too hard, it will only repel him. Reading should be fun; if it’s not, why would he do it? Continue encouraging him and being supportive. Bring books along wherever you go, and maybe one day he’ll find there’s nothing better to do on that long car ride. Once he starts, he may never stop.
Alexandra Kelly is an English teacher and mother who knows the importance of children actively reading. Alexandra is currently working on accent reduction with her children by reading foreign language books.
Photo Credit: Maulleigh
About The Real Supermum
i ALWAYS read before i go to bed. every night without fail. so my daughter always has a bedtime story and when shes older i will encourage her to read before bed x
Reading is important for children young and old and adults too. Just because it’s the school holidays shouldn’t mean out with all the ‘homework’ and learning and such. Make an effort the encourage and even actively help your child throughout the holidays like you would in term time. The Summer holidays are a long time and you don’t want your child getting a lazybrain and going back to school in September all silly and finding it hard to get back into the pace of things. I read a book with my daughters (4 & 1) everynight without fail and we read in the day too as well as counting and the alphabet/writing with my eldest too. I think it’s important to encourage them and take an active roll in their learning, just because they go to school doesn’t mean your ‘job’ is over xx
I read to my daughter (14 months) and can’t wait until she’s reading
My lo is 22 months and I have read to him since day 1. He joined the library at 15 months and we spend and least 2 hours a day reading. I’ve all ways loved a good book and I hope he will be the same
my son is not at the stage of reading yet, but always brings me a book to read to him x
i read to my son every night
hes 1 and a half 
xx
my girls love to read books and it had rubbed off on them as they start to recognise words as they know the books off by heart x
i read to my lg every night she loves her books xx
Some great ideas thank you, my kids love being read too, and now my daughter is 6 she reads to her younger brother as well.x
all the kids in my family love to read
I read my kids two books each night xx they love it xx