1. Combine activities with books.
Summer is full of fun things to do and see. Encourage kids to read a book about their favorite activities first. If you're going to a baseball game, suggest your child read a book about his or her favorite player beforehand. In the car or over a hot dog, you'll have lots of time to talk about the book and the game. The zoo, the beach and the park also offer great opportunities to read about it first. Your imagination is the limit!
Summer is full of fun things to do and see. Encourage kids to read a book about their favorite activities first. If you're going to a baseball game, suggest your child read a book about his or her favorite player beforehand. In the car or over a hot dog, you'll have lots of time to talk about the book and the game. The zoo, the beach and the park also offer great opportunities to read about it first. Your imagination is the limit!
2. Visit the library.
If your child doesn't have a library card, summer is a great time to sign up. In addition to a wide selection of books to borrow, many libraries have fun, child-friendly summer reading programs. Plan to spend at least an hour while the kids browse, explore and choose.
If your child doesn't have a library card, summer is a great time to sign up. In addition to a wide selection of books to borrow, many libraries have fun, child-friendly summer reading programs. Plan to spend at least an hour while the kids browse, explore and choose.
3. Create a reading journal.
Keep track of the authors and books that each child wants to read and save room for a one or two line review of each book. It can also be fun to post reviews online on book sites such as RIFs Reading Planet, Amazon.com, Purple Crayon, or The Internet Public Library.
Keep track of the authors and books that each child wants to read and save room for a one or two line review of each book. It can also be fun to post reviews online on book sites such as RIFs Reading Planet, Amazon.com, Purple Crayon, or The Internet Public Library.
4. Read aloud with kids.
Become your child's favorite storyteller. Children enjoy enthusiastic read-alouds no matter what their age. Make the story even more interesting by improvising different voices or wearing a silly hat. Create a reading festival by reading aloud several books by one particular author. Don't forget to let them read to you, too.
Become your child's favorite storyteller. Children enjoy enthusiastic read-alouds no matter what their age. Make the story even more interesting by improvising different voices or wearing a silly hat. Create a reading festival by reading aloud several books by one particular author. Don't forget to let them read to you, too.
5. Start a book club.
Start a mother/daughter or family book club. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say. Book clubs with a few friends are also a lot of fun. Help them write a list of things to talk about for each book and make themed snacks to serve during the book club meeting. "What's Cooking in Children's Literature" has hundreds of book-related recipes.
Start a mother/daughter or family book club. Ask them what they think about what they've read, and listen to what they say. Book clubs with a few friends are also a lot of fun. Help them write a list of things to talk about for each book and make themed snacks to serve during the book club meeting. "What's Cooking in Children's Literature" has hundreds of book-related recipes.
6. Outside the book.
Storybooks aren't the only thing that kids can read for fun. Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World. Sunday newspapers usually have a special section for kids with articles and games. Have fun reading signs, billboards or recipes, too!
Storybooks aren't the only thing that kids can read for fun. Subscribe, in your child's name, to magazines like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Highlights for Children, or National Geographic World. Sunday newspapers usually have a special section for kids with articles and games. Have fun reading signs, billboards or recipes, too!
7. Lead by example.
Don't make kids "finish what they start"! It will not build their love for books. Instead, set a good example by reading all the time. Read the newspaper at breakfast. Read while you are waiting for the carpool. Read while you are sitting with the TV off. Read when you're at the pool. Tell them about what you're reading. Make it safe and fashionable to talk about books, about reading, about authors, and about literature.
Don't make kids "finish what they start"! It will not build their love for books. Instead, set a good example by reading all the time. Read the newspaper at breakfast. Read while you are waiting for the carpool. Read while you are sitting with the TV off. Read when you're at the pool. Tell them about what you're reading. Make it safe and fashionable to talk about books, about reading, about authors, and about literature.
