Reading: Forming a Summer Reading Habit

By Michele Blandino

When the final school bell of the year sounds, the focus of children everywhere turns from the three "R's" to the activities of summer.

And, while picking up a good book may be the furthest thing from their minds that is precisely what they should be sure to take time to do. Encouraging your child to regularly read during the summer months will not only help them maintain the reading skills they worked so hard to learn during the school year, it can also exposure them to topics they may not have otherwise explored.

So, how do you encourage your child to take time away from the summer pastimes of swimming, biking or playing with friends so that they can spend time reading? Here are some ideas:

• Set a Schedule. Set aside a specific time each day for your child to read. While the specific time of day isn't very important, the ability to consistently stick to a daily reading schedule is. While some may find it easiest to designate the morning as reading time, other find that allowing their child to stay up 15 or 30 minutes later provided they are using that time to read, is a successful technique.
• Visit the Library. Make a weekly ritual of going to the library during the summer. Letting your child choose the books that interest them will help increase the chance that they will actually read. Also, be sure to let your child borrow several books at once so that they have plenty to choose from when they get home. Having several books at their disposal will also prove useful if your child finds that one doesn't hold their interest.
• Encourage Variety. If your child reads primarily fiction, suggest that they choose a biography or other type of non-fiction work. Without the pressure of school-related reading assignments, your child will be free to explore different genres. Again, the key is to allow the child to choose the type of books that interest them.
• Start Small. For children who don't particularly like to read, tackling an entire book may not be the best way to start. Instead, buy one or two age-appropriate magazines for your child. The shorter articles will be easier to finish and may be just enough to spark their interest in a particular topic.
• Eliminate Distractions. Your child will be better able to focus if distractions such as the television and computer are eliminated. As a result, it is recommended that you turn off the computer, CD player, television and any other devise that may make it difficult for your child to focus while they are reading.
• Read Together. Many children enjoy sharing the books they read with their parents. While it may not be feasible for you to read an entire book with your child, taking the time to occasionally read with them will help encourage them to continue.
• Read to a Sibling. Have your child read to their younger siblings. Not only will this help to enable the older child to practice their reading skills, it will set a good example to the younger children and form the foundation for their own reading habits.

The bottom line is that reading should be done for the child's enjoyment. By giving them the ability to choose what and when they will read, you are taking the first step toward a lifetime of reading enjoyment.