summer reading

Posted by learning on June 16, 2008

Whether you have a reluctant reader or an avid reader (or both) in your household, summer reading is essential for your child. Unfortunately, parents are a little busy as they carpool and supervise children in their activities or rush home from work and leave again to carpool and supervise children. And that doesn’t count meals, laundry, yard work, on and on. So reading gets done like this: One of the parents give a book to a child and tell them to go read. And the parent takes care of the house. Maybe the child reads. Maybe the child wanders off. Maybe the suggestion of reading the book starts a fight between the parent and child.

Here’s a different way. Look at the schedule and see if one of those activities can be skipped or if the laundry can wait another day.  Move reading time into the schedule.

Play a reading game. 

Read fun books. Books that make you and your child laugh. Sad books that make you cry with your child. Reading is an activity that bonds parents and children. Even if they are teenagers, chances are underneath all those protests about how lame reading a book with a parent is, there is a kid who is delighted to have one-on-one time and enjoy a good book.

Where are you going to get the books? How are you going to afford books? Try the public library. It’s a endless resource of great books.

Read to your child. If your child wants, let your child read to you. Enjoy!