Summer Reading Tips
Well, the summer has once again arrived. It's time for swimming and sunburns, friends and sleepovers, amusement parks and vacations...ah, yes, the summer months will be brimming with excitement and activity. Let's face it, our Summer is cram-packed with activities. How will our children ever find the time for reading a book, and more importantly, how can we get them to want to?
Well, this "elusive" time for kids to read is available. It's hidden in the gaps between avtivities. No matter how busy your are or how many activities you have planned for your children and with your family, there's always going to be the those "Mom, I'm bored" moments.
This is the time to try to get our kids reading. We don't want to take away anything else to make time for reading. Reading is not a punishment. Unfortunately, all to often, it's the mind numbing TV shows and video games that win the battle for our childrren's free time.
So how can get our children to put down the remote control and video game controllers, and read a book without giving them the impression that they are being forced to do something they don't want to do?
How can we help them think about reading, not as homework, but as fun?
Here are a few tips:
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Give Children Power to Choose: If children get to choose what they read, their natural tendency is to become more attached. They feel pride in having chosen for themselves and will be much more likely to be interested and excited to read. Take your children to your local bookstore or library. Don't suggest books that you think would be good, but be patient and let them browse and enjoy the process of choosing.
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Find Books that Match Your Child's Interest: Outer Space, Dinosaurs, Princesses, Trucks, Flowers, and on and on...Find books that will enable your child to learn more about the things they like. Coupled with tip #1, a child choosing his or her own book about things that interest them, shifts the label of reading from "chore" or "homework" to "FUN"!
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Make it a Habit: Old habits die hard, which may make it difficult to turn off the TV and Wii and curl up on the sofa with a good book. The flip side is that once children spend enough time reading, it will eventually relace those old habits. Set up a reading time, maybe 30 minutes before bed or right after breakfast, where chidren can pull out the books they HAVE CHOSEN (#1 above) and that INTEREST THEM (#2 above). In a relatively short time, not only will they be enjoying reading and learning but they will have formed a habit which will be very difficult to break!
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Reward Children for Reading: This goes back to habit. Breaking the old habits and developing the new may be difficult at first, so extra incentives may help keep them focused during the transition phase. Try giving your child a small trinket. Nothing big...maybe some bubbles or a new pencil from the Dollar Store whenever they finish a chapter. This will help increase their willpower to turn off the TV and open their book. Remember you don't want to force the transition! You want them to do it for themselves. These are quidelines to help THEM change their own habits. Anything you try to force may backfire!
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Let Children See you Reading: Create a culture of reading in your home. This will reinforce that reading is not a chore. This will help remove their concept that reading is just some more "learning" stuff adults keep forcing us to do. They will start to understand that reading is fun. Remind them you read becuase it's fun to learn new things and experience exciting adventures. Children emulate adults all the time. Ask your child if they want to go out on the patio and read with you; and when they do, don't talk. Sit together silently reading your books. This will help foster a very strong and loving emotional bond between you and your child and your child will associate this wonderful feeling with reading!
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Make it Fun: I know what you're thinking isn't that what we've been talking about the whole time? Yes, it is, but it is the key to developing and encouraging a love of not only reading, but all types of learning. As you think of your own creative ways to implement some of these steps, always ask yourself, "Will this be fun?"
The answer is your guide!
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Educational Benefits
Children have been enjoying personalized children’s books since the 70’s, but only recently have we come to realize the educational benefits of personalized children’s books. Studies have shown that personalized books are not only entertaining, but tend to promote literacy and education, as well.
Children, like all of us, learn best when they are focused and interested in what they are being taught. Because personalized children’s books are so instantly familiar to children, they become drawn into the story, and less aware of other things that may normally be distracting. In other words, they become focused and interested, which is a great combination when children are going through their learning process.
If you choose to purchase one of our books, drop us a line sometime. We’d love to hear how your child liked it!
Thanks so much for visiting us!
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