6 Of The Best Ways To Get Your Kids To Read This Summer (& Free Reading Bingo!)
Looking for ways to limit screen time for kids and get your children reading instead? “Travel” and learn with these suggestions … without ever leaving the house!
Sometimes there are two things that just seem to go together. What would peanut butter be without jelly? Would Cher really have become a household name without Sonny? And who talks about yin without discussing good old yang too?
For me, travel and reading are two things that go together just as fittingly as any tried and true pair.
The idea that there is so much more out there than our little corner of the world is often learned first through a book. And it’s through books that we can “go” really anywhere. Reading can also be the inspiration for exploring destinations we later visit in person.
In other words, reading is both a motivation and a method to having great family adventures.
But with so much technology at kids’ fingertips, it can be tough to get them to choose to pick up a book.
We’ve found some things the experts recommend (and that have worked in our family). They just might get your kids reading instead of plugging in.
Set realistic expectations for limiting screen time for kids
How much screen time should kids be getting? The answer to that may not be as important as the answer to “what kind of screen time are they getting?” But no mom-guilt here - even kids need down time!
“How much screen time is too much” is a common question we parents ask ourselves. While those little devices come in handy for entertaining kids, we worry too much is detrimental.
And there are certainly many studies that show kids are spending more time on screens than we may think.
But some child development experts are also saying there may be a more appropriate question. “What kind” instead of “how much” screen time might be even more important.
Common Sense Media sums up why some screen time is better than others. They say the 4 C’s - connection, creativity, critical thinking, and context are what matters. In other words, are kids connecting with what they’re watching so they can learn? Is it engaging their critical thinking and creativity skills? And can they put what they’re seeing into context?
And as a parent, that just makes sense. While I don’t want my kids spending too much time on screens, I know some of what they do on there is truly educational.
So, we came up with ways to keep a healthy screen time balance.
Use The device’s screen time limits.
I set up screen time limits on my children’s devices. We can set up what times of day are off limits and how much time they can use each day. We also set up a family Apple ID, which requires our kids to ask permission for apps.
Monitor app and Show choices.
We try to pick apps and shows together so I can steer them toward healthier choices.
Don’t stress (too much!) about some downtime which includes non-educational screen time.
While we try to limit it, I recognize it’s my kids’ generation’s version of after school cartoons. ‘Mom guilt” has never served me well, even when it comes to this topic.
Cut back slowly.
Think of it like a screen time diet. Starvation typically leads to major cheating. So if I notice my kids’ time on screens starts to increase, I cut it back slowly instead of all at once.
Pick books they’ll love to read
Turns out kids may just be some of the best experts on what books they should choose. Because getting kids to love reading means tapping into what they love outside of books too!
Nothing quite encourages a love of reading like letting kids choose books that interest them. That’s something that I’ve found helpful for both my voracious readers as well as my kids who are more reluctant to pick up a book.
And it turns out it’s not just something I’ve found helpful in my own family. Letting kids take the lead in choosing books they love is something experts recommend too.
Take the lead of the Center for Teaching and Learning for example. The school is nationally recognized for their literacy programs. In a article by the Washington Post, a representative for the school says, “free choice of books is a child’s right, not a privilege.”
The Post went on to highlight this as the best way to inspire a love of reading in kids. They further stated that the only way to hook children on reading is to allow them to read for pleasure.
So, does this mean parents should have no say in what kids are reading this summer?
Nope! The article said parents or teachers should select a wide range of books. And kids should choose books that interest them from within those preselected books.
Just be sure you’re including a variety of topics, genres, and book lengths.
You might also be interested in:
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Get kids reading by starting a book club
Reading is more fun when kids are doing it with a friend… or a group of friends! Book clubs are a great way to get kids to love to read.
If there’s one thing my family learned during the recent lockdowns brought on the pandemic it’s that we all need ... rely on... even crave time with others. Everyone in my brood, from my uber-social son to my independently-minded daughter, missed time with others. (Can you hear of few notes of “People Who Need People” in the background? Yep - I’m humming it right now!)
Now we’re a bit more able to scratch that social itch. What better way to get your kids reading than a book-inspired get-together?
A few summers ago I started a book club with my then middle-school aged daughter. She relished the chance to spend time with friends. I was happy to encourage her to read. And the impending date of her club meeting kept her picking up her book instead of spending time plugged in.
Making the book club meeting memorable keeps kids coming back. Plan a meeting with fun activities like these ideas:
Play a game of book trivia.
Teachers Pay Teachers has loads of question and answer quizzes for a variety of books. But rather than making it a dreaded quiz, use those questions in a fun trivia game about the book.
Go on a plot themed Treasure hunt.
My kids love following clues on a treasure hunt. And this was one of the things the kids liked best when my daughter’s book club read “The Fault in Their Stars.” Clues were things like “okay may be their always but you’ll find your next clue in the hallways”.
Have kids dress like their favorite character.
Some books lend themselves so well to really getting into character by dressing like someone from the book.
Do a book themed craft.
Get crafty with something the kids can take home. And if paint and glue isn’t your thing, head to the kitchen. A sweet treat made together and themed after the book is a fun activity too.
Go on a field trip.
Some books lend themselves well to going someplace special. Hikes, zoos, museums and other places make great spots for book club meetings.
Reach out to the author.
He or she may be willing to meet kids trough Zoom or kids can write letters to the author.
Send home a grab bag with small gifts related to the book.
Find some things the kids can take home to commemorate the time spent together exploring the book.
Need a little motivation to travel and learn? Check out:
40 Inspiring Quotes That Will Make You Want To Travel And Learn
Read aloud Or Listen To Audiobooks to teach kids to love to Read
Reading aloud or listening to audiobooks isn’t just for toddlers or those just learning to read! It can be a great way to get your older child to have less screen time (and more time with books) too.
The importance of reading to your baby or toddler has been well documented. We likely all know that to get kids to read when they’re older, experts recommend parents read aloud to them when they’re younger.
But does that mean we should stop doing it when kids get old enough to read by themselves?
Many experts say, “no.” They contend that reading aloud with your child shouldn’t stop just because they’re reading on their own.
In fact, Reading Rockets says reading with your older child is one of the best ways to stretch young readers’ understanding. And Common Sense Media lists 10 reasons reading aloud to bigs kids is important. They include vocabulary building and creating a thirst for learning among the benefits.
When you can’t read aloud, like when you’re driving in a car, audiobooks are a great way to limit screen time for kids. Scholastic says audiobooks are great for kids, not only because they’re fun but because they improve literacy skills too.
Having trouble finding an audiobook you think you’re kids will love? Check out Good Housekeeping’s list of 20 best audiobooks for kids of all ages to enjoy.
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Design a space they’ll love to read in
Reading in a fun place makes the plot of any book that much better! We designed this reading closet for our kids but there are lots of ways to create special reading spots. From easy ideas to bigger projects, foster a love of reading through a great setting.
I know you’ve stumbled upon my little place on the web to talk travel and learning, digress just a minute with me to another of my favorite subjects. Food.
Every adventurer’s got to eat after all. And in fact, food is what often makes so many destinations even better.
Think about some of your favorite meals you’ve had while traveling. Ponder the places that felt special. I’m not talking about in a stuffy, formal dining kind of way. I mean in a comfy, snuggled-in kind of a way.
Chances are those great meals you had weren’t just about the ingredients and the preparation. Chances are it may have had a bit to do with the atmosphere too.
Indulging in reading can feel much the same way. And for kids, that means creating a space that feels comfy. Special. Snuggled-in.
Creating a great reading space, can be a project that’s as big or small as you want. Here are a few ideas for creating a great reading nook that will make them want to love reading:
Convert a closet into a special place to read;
Use a teepee or tent to create a space to read;
Not enough floor space for a teepee or tent? Look for a bed tent or create a loft bed to turn a bed into a reading spot.
Sometimes it’s more about the “who” than the “where” of a great place to read. A bed can also be a fun reading corner for younger kids by creating an audience of stuffed animals.
Got extra boxes laying around? A box tent is one of my kids’ favorite places to explore a book.
Head outside. A treehouse or playhouse makes a great spot to read but blankets under a tree do the trick too.
You might also enjoy:
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limit Screen Time for kids by planning fun activities
Get your kids reading by making it fun! Read more than just books. Incorporate movies. Learn about authors. And make a game out of it!
Explore kids’ magazines
My kids love getting their own mail. When that mail comes in the way of something great for them to read, it’s a win-win.
I often gift magazine subscriptions to my kids and friend’s kids. I’ve found it’s a great way for them to read, even when they’re not interested in delving into a book.
Read the book, watch the movie
Paring a book with the movie made about it is one of our family’s favorite ways to really explore a book. The movie feels like a little reward for reading. And it sparks great discussions about the differences between the two.
Need inspiration on which book and movie paring to choose? Imagination Soup has a huge list of children’s books adapted into movies.
Learn about DIFFERENT authors
If your young reader has found a book she loves, chances are she may also love other books by that particular author. So learning more about the person behind the book is a fun way to engage your reader.
We’ve loved to travel to places like the Edgar Allen Poe Museum to learn more about authors. But when we’re home, we’ve also really enjoyed looking up our favorite authors and learning more about them.
Don’t have a favorite author yet? Check out Barnes and Nobles’ list of 16 must-read children’s authors to pick an author you want to learn more about.
Play fun games like scavenger hunt and reading bingo
If you’ve been paying attention, you know we love a good treasure or scavenger hunt! But they don’t have to be just for book club meetings, like we mentioned above. My kids love them on their own too.
And they also love being able to check off reading tasks like the ones we created in our own version of Reading Bingo. You can download your copy of our Reading Bingo below. It’s our little gift to you to keep your kids reading (and learning - shhh!) this summer!
