Make Summer Reading a FUN Activity

The kids are out of school for the summer! As adults, you know the importance of reading during the summer, with the end goal of helping them avoid the dreaded “Summer Slide”. You’ve made the decision that this will be the summer they read! But how do you make their reading a fun activity not a chore? Don’t worry – we have some suggestions!

Bring your child to the library for Summer Reading programs.

This summer’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library”. Get ready for programs that are fun and informative, and a great opportunity for them to explore and find books they will want to read. Kids will adventure through their backyards and around the world. Explore Summer Reading programs.

Sign up your child for Beanstack at your library.

Beanstack’s main goal is all about keeping your child motivated to read more books as they see their list (time) grow. For every 60 minutes that they read, they will earn digital badges and tickets that will go towards prizes. Pro tip: if you’re attending programs at the library, don’t forget to ask a staff member for the secret code to unlock extra badges and tickets!

Let them choose the books they want to read.

Children are more apt to read a book they have chosen themselves. This is also the time to remind them that its ok to not like a book, and that they don’t have to finish a book if they’re not enjoying it – there are plenty more to choose from at the library!

Get a suggested reading list from school or online.

This may open your kids up to wonderful books they might have not have chosen on their own. One of the most popular lists used in Florida are the Sunshine State Young Reader Award lists that are broken into different grade level categories. You can easily find the titles on each of the lists by visiting our online catalog.

Make one night a week a family reading night.

All screens are turned off, unless you are reading an e-book, and everyone in the family gets together and reads for the evening. You can pretend you are camping and read in sleeping bags or blankets on the floor. You can even wear your pajamas like it is a sleepover. A non-messy treat like rice crispy treats or non-buttered popcorn can add to the enjoyment.

While you are driving, listen to an audiobook.

Audiobooks count as reading! Your child can improve their sentence structure and vocabulary just by listening to books. There are plenty of audiobook options for kids on Libby, the library’s online reading app.

Make a book nook.

Have your child help you create a cozy indoor reading nook with blankets, pillows, or favorite stuffed animals. A special place that they can have all to themselves can remove distractions and allow them to dive into the story they’re reading.

Visit a Little Free Library.

Look on Little Free Library World Map and find a Little Free Library near you. They are a great way for kids to find new book titles and pick out their favorites. Consider donating some books that your child might have outgrown. You could even build a Little Free Library for your neighborhood.

Get outside.

Sometimes just relocating to the great outdoors can make reading feel more special. Put a blanket under a shady tree, pitch a tent, or just relax in a lawn chair. Make it extra special by heading outside and reading under the stars with a flashlight. Don’t forget your sunscreen or bug repellent!

Encourage your child to write and illustrate a book about anything they like.

It could be a fantasy, a mystery, a cookbook, or just something silly. All you need is some paper, crayons or markers, and a little imagination.

Read with your child.

If your child sees that reading is an enjoyable pastime for you, they will learn to enjoy reading too. Building the passion to read starts at an early age, and modeling that passion will help them to develop into readers themselves!

As always, the Citrus Libraries team is here to assist readers of all ages with finding a book that is just right for them! To learn more about the Citrus Libraries Summer Reading Program, check out our website at www.citruslibraries.org/summerreading for all of the details about summer programming, prizes and more. You can also stay up-to-date on all of the happenings at Citrus Libraries by following us @citruslibraries on Facebook and Instagram.