Summer Reading: 5 Tips To Get Your Child Reading This Summer

Kansas City Star:

Reading. It is one of the most essential things that kids can do when school's out. A 2002 report from National Summer Learning Association states that children lose approximately two months of learning over the summer.

Read the whole story: Kansas City Star

Comments

[ddb]

09:57 PM on 05/31/2010

My 12 year old daughter hated reading. She was a slow reader, and got frustrated quickly.
Then she started reading the first Harry Potter book. She was hooked from page 1 -- to the point where we had to yell at her to put the book down and go to bed! She read all seven of the books within six months (this from a kid who never read a book all the way through before unless it was assigned at school).
With all of that practice, a year and a half later, she now loves to read. And even though she now reads tons of other stuff, she is planning to start the Harry Potter series again this summer.
I really can't recommend those books highly enough to get kids reading.

[BlondieM]

08:15 PM on 05/31/2010

ah. The cocoon that is the USA. These are all lovely reminders for middle-class citizens. Ever heard of the digital divide? When I read articles like this, it about brings me to tears. I teach 3rd grade in Sacramento, CA in a multi-cultural, economically disadvantaged neighborhood. My students come from homes with no computer literacy or access. Summer activites? They go nowhere. Most of our kids haven't seen the ocean or even been to Old Town Sacramento. The library is suffering from budget cuts and is, for most, another unknown destination. Ten of my 23 students speak another language besides English at home. There are no "rules" about reading over the summer. I have bought them all their own book to read and will send home a packet of ideas, worksheets, and activities. Usually about two bring it back in the fall. There is no summer school again this year, so our staff knows we will, as usual, be playing catch-up in September. Reading is essential. Not all kids have the same support, advantages, and opportunities. Please remember this when you read. We are not all so blessed as to be born into that perfect family. As teachers, we take our clientele from whatever their background is and do the very best we can for them. I am their role-model and it is a great honor. It's just really hard sometimes when you confront the unfairness and inequity of the situation.

[Chris202]

07:26 PM on 05/31/2010

A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child. No matter what areas of interest a child has, books will open any world to him/her and provide a lifetime of knowledge and joy.

[VeggieLove]

07:12 PM on 05/31/2010

I think I've tried all of the above to no avail. At least my daughter loves to play outside as opposed to sitting in front of the television. When she can't be outside she creates "art" or immerses herself in imaginative play.

[Trittydi]

06:01 PM on 05/31/2010

People who put televisions in their kids rooms are flirting with disaster. Why put that responsibility on the child? They're not mature enough to make the right decisions regarding television viewing.
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[Trittydi]

05:58 PM on 05/31/2010

I'll mention what worked for us.

Our eldest was about eight when we turned the television off forever. We selected their video viewing - and we were fairly liberal.

We never got in the car if they didn't have a book or two in their hands.

We took them to bookstores a lot, and we bought them books whenever we could - there were always books for xmas and birthdays.

We took them to the library a lot and we always came home with armloads of books.

We read to them together as a family, every night, even into their teen years.

They're intelligent, articulate and lovely to know. They've all won writing awards. They were often (one always) in the spelling bees - one year all three were together, the elder two terrified of being beaten by their younger sister. They're all doing very well with their college careers.
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[joefoss]

02:26 PM on 05/31/2010

The best way to not only "get kids to read" but to help them learn to love reading is for parents to read to them!
=Being read "bedtime stories," sitting on mommy's or daddy's lap listening to fairy tales,
reading together at the library--all these activities nurture a love of reading.
=Moms & Dads know they've succeeded when their little one grabs the book from their hands and says: "I want to read!"

[1differentdrummer]

11:47 AM on 05/31/2010

Here's another. Limit and plan tv. A child gets so many hours of tv per week and has to plan, with parents, what to watch. No computer or tv in bedroom Parents, cut back your tv and up the number of books you read. The sooner this starts, the younger the kids, the better the result.