Keeping Up With Summer Reading

In the summer, the last thing kids want to do is more homework or anything “required.” But as parents, we’d like them to keep up on certain skills so they’re ready to return to school in September.

We’re all big readers in our house. But I know from my own experience that once I was required to read book after endless book in high school, it started to erode my joy of reading for pleasure. For one, I didn’t have the time to read things that weren’t assigned to me, plus it felt like a never-ending list of book after book throughout multiple classes.

So if your kids aren’t fond of checking their school’s summer reading list, that’s not a problem.

There is an almost infinite supply of books to fit every interest and reading level. Let your kids be your guide. 

What interests them most – sports, fantasy, food, animals? Help them make a list of things they like and books they’ve enjoyed in the past, and this can help them find their perfect summer reading matches. Perhaps they want to continue exploring a favorite series or check out some new books by an author they like.

Another incentive (in case they’re resisting reading) is to pick a book that has been turned into a movie. After they read the book, kids can be rewarded with a fun movie night. Then they can compare and contrast the book and movie versions of the story to see what things were the same and what the movie may have changed, left out, or even added.

Do whatever works best for you and your kids. It’s okay to deviate from “the list.” As long as they enjoy reading, that matters most in my book.