We’ve all made bucket lists, especially for summertime activities. It’s fun for each family member to come up with a list of things to try and do before the back-to-school season. But what about trying a bucket list for reading this summer?
I know it can be challenging to find the time, energy, or motivation to read extensively in the summer but hear me out. Have you ever heard of the Summer Slide? Research indicates that students in 3rd-5th grade can potentially lose up to 20% of the reading skills they gained during the school year over the summer.
Now, a summer reading bucket list doesn’t have to be seen as a chore but rather as a fun challenge.
There are so many ways to achieve reading skills during the summer that don’t involve having to read War & Peace. One of the easiest ways to incorporate more reading is to sign up for your local library’s Summer Reading program. These programs are a fun way to help challenge kids to read a number and variety of books. It usually incorporates logging in reading time, gaining prizes for reaching certain goals, and culminates with an end-of-summer celebration.
Have your kids create a wish list of books they’d like to read, and you can do the same. Summer is the perfect time to use your local library resources and apply for a library card if you don’t already have one. Make reading into a game. For example, if there’s a place your family wants to visit this summer, grab some books or articles about the place and have your kids do some research. They’ll feel a sense of pride when they get to visit the place and tell you all the facts they’ve already learned about it.
You can even make your own Pizza Hut Book-it-type challenge. Remember that? For every ten books or whatever number you choose, the kids get to pick a prize like personal pizza, ice cream, or whatever is their favorite summertime treat.
