Be their Summer Reading Champion… the fun & easy way!

We have about two more weeks left before summer break starts but I know some parts of the country are already celebrating no homework and no school lunches.  Good for you! Our daughter came out of school yesterday telling me that the kids were all hyped up because everyone is so ready for summer.  Have I mentioned yet how much respect I have for teachers?  You’re almost there, teachers! 

During these hectic “end of the school year” days, we definitely look forward to the joys of summer: more time for creativity and art, sleeping in, swimming in lakes, hiking in the woods, unstructured play time and reading awesome books.  What is better than laying on a soft picnic blanket under a big tree and “traveling” to whatever part of the world or time period your book takes you? 

Whether or not your kid loves to read, reading during summer break is so important regardless.  Most American kids get to enjoy being out of school for 2 1/2 months every summer which is a REALLY LONG time not to be practicing their reading skills.  As a comparison, I grew up in the Netherlands where kids only get about 6 weeks of summer break.  Their summer break really flies by!

So what are you to do when you don’t want your kid to show up back at school this fall feeling behind and frustrated because they are struggling to catch up after summer?  I certainly don’t have any professional answers but I am a mom who is passionate about kids and helping them to love reading.  That’s why I decided to create a program that would turn summer reading from a chore into a game where kids feel motivated and excited about the rewards they can earn.  As a busy mom myself, I wanted to make sure to create a program that is easy to fit in with everything else. Win-win, right?

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Want to know more about feeling less frustrated and more relaxed this summer about the whole summer reading thing?  Then head on over to my etsy shop to check out this fun reading game and book log to keep track of favorite books.  You can come up with your own rewards but to make it extra easy, I have included nine rewards that will make your kid happy and look cool with hand drawn illustrations.  This summer reading kit even includes a word search game as a bonus.  This is an instant download printable so your child can start playing it  and reading right away. Also, you can print however many copies you need during the summer and  give each child their own game board to visually keep track of their progress. 

Instead of arguing and nagging your child to read this summer break, here are a few more tips to engage with your child in regards to their reading in a positive way:

• Make reading a time to snuggle and connect with your child.  Before you know it, your kid will be big so cherish this time! 
• Ask your child about the story he or she is reading to make sure your child comprehends the text and can tell you about the book
• Read a story out loud to share in the experience of story telling
• Ask your kids what they think will happen next in the story
• Encourage your child to draw pictures of the characters or what is happening in the story

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I would love to hear any other tips you may have found to be helpful in enjoying summer reading with your child. Please share in the comments so we can all learn from each other! 

P.S. I really hope you will enjoy the game I created and that it helps you to have a fun summer with your family.  For less than a Starbucks latte, you can be their summer reading champion so that your kids won’t fall behind on reading this summer.  Your kids’ teachers will thank you!