The best readers are those who read for personal enjoyment, but some kids need a little inspiration in order to include reading in their summer fun. Try one of these challenges to get them excited.
1.Good Habits Challenge
Work with your child to choose a little something that she can read every day. It might be the sports section of the newspaper or a daily devotional for students or even a website like wonderopolis.org where you’ll find a “Wonder of the Day” to read about and explore. Keep a chart to check off when the daily reading is complete and see how long your child can go with a daily reading habit.
2.Book Series Binge Challenge
Just like when we find a new show on Netflix and binge watch every episode in one weekend, there are loads of book series that are binge worthy out there as well. Challenge your child to pick a book series to tackle between the first day of summer vacation and the last.
3.Book Tower Challenge
Check out from the library a stack of quick, easy books even if they are below your child’s reading ability. Easy reading gives a confidence boost and promotes the enjoyment of reading. Challenge your child to read for quantity and stack the books as he reads. Can your child build a tower of books as tall as himself through reading?
4.Favorite Author Challenge
Talk with your child about books they have already read. Which author is a favorite? Head to the library and find the shelf where this author’s books are kept and see if your child can read every book by that author this summer.
5.Rainbow Spine Challenge
Read through the rainbow by choosing books based on the color of the spine. Start with a red spine and work your way through
ROY G BIV. Use this chart to record your journey.
Alternatively, choose a single color and commit to reading seven books with spines that color.
6.Variety Challenge
Expand your child’s reading interest by challenging them to read books from a list of different genres. Use the scorecard to chart progress made.
Or if your child is interested in nonfiction, challenge them to read one book from each of the Dewey categories. Use the scoreboard below to keep track.
Rewards
Even though the real rewards of doing a Reading Challenge are all the great characters that you get to meet through books and the reading muscle strength that is built, we all know it’s fun to celebrate our success in other ways too! Discuss with your child before the challenge starts what would be motivating for them.
- Ice cream date one on one with a parent.
- Family trip to the movies.
- A special dinner out or home cooked meal.
- An end of summer day trip to the zoo.
- Cash with the end goal of your child saving to purchase a special something.
Be an Example
Parents, consider doing a summer reading challenge alongside your child. Kids who read for pleasure most often come from homes where the parents read for pleasure. And everyone can benefit from a little daily D.E.A.R time. Drop, Everything, And, Read.