It's July, school is out for the summer, and one of the last things on your child's mind is reading. However research clearly shows that children who read during the summer gain learning skills, while those who do not often experience learning losses. Whether your child is just a beginner or a fluent reader, it is important that he or she spend time this summer reading on a regular basis. Here are a few tips for making your child's summer full of reading fun.
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Help your children find time to read.
With so much going on in the summer and so much temptation to be outside, it is important to schedule time for reading. Having kids keep a reading journal is a great way to establish a reading routine and keep track of their progress.
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Combine reading with summer activities.
Whether you are planning a vacation, a day at the beach, or a trip to watch the Rays play, combining reading with an activity can greatly increase your child's interest in reading. So the next time you are heading out to a game, suggest to your child that he or she read a book about a favorite team or player beforehand.
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Visit one of our amazing libraries.
Here in Pinellas county, we have some of the most amazing libraries you will find anywhere in the state. If your child does not already have a library card, this summer is a great time for him or her to get one. The Pinellas libraries not only have a wide selection of books, videos and tapes to check out, but they also have many family-friendly activities scheduled every week.
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Relax and make it fun.
Summer is a great time to allow children the opportunity to just read for fun. During the school year most children have daily required reading assigned by their teachers. So try to make your child's summer reading fun and relaxing. Instead of picking out the books for them, help find ways for them to choose books to read on their own.
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Read stories aloud with your children.
Make reading come alive to your children by taking time out to read stories aloud to them. Children love being read to enthusiastically, so don't forget to use different voices to make the story more interesting. Also, you may want to dress up or have a puppet show to go with the story to spice things up a bit. But no matter what you do, take time to read with your kids, they will love it.
