Both of my children enjoy reading, but with summer here it is hard to get them inside. In the winter months reading was all they wanted to do. They are 6 & 7 years old. I like for them to read 30 minutes a day. I am looking for incentive programs or other creative ideas you might have. I already signed them up for the book club at our local library. They already know what books they like so interest is not a problem. One idea I had was for every 5 books they read, they can buy one. Anyway, please share your ideas and thoughts. Thanks.
2007-06-24 07:01:47 · 21 answers · asked by Tiffany L 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Al - yes, I read every day. Like I said, they enjoy reading and read above grade level. I am just looking for some ways to make it even more fun.
2007-06-24 07:13:19 · update #1
These are all great ideas. I like the idea of letting them read in bed before bedtime. I like the idea of letting them read outside. We have the perfect porch and hammock for that. I also like the idea of a big prize. I think I will make a list of 20 books and when they finish it I will take them to Lagoon (an amusement park here in Utah). I will let this go to voting because I can't choose just one favorite. Thanks.
2007-06-24 16:44:30 · update #2
You encourage by example. Do you read?
2007-06-24 07:09:59 · answer #1 · answered by al 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Make a special reading time. Maybe a little bit before bed time, everyone ( including you) can get in your pajamas. You can all have your book and read.
If you want more of an incentive, tell them that if they read over 3 hours each week you can go and get an ice cream, pizza, see a movie, go to the park, or do somethng else super fun. You can also say if they read 3 hours every week for a month, they can get a new video game or something. A more extreme incentive would be to have a list of 20 chapter books and if they read every one of them you can take them to disney land or a water park.
Another Idea would be a book club. Have them ask a few of their friends and their moms if they want to come over every 2 or weeks and have a meeting. You can rotate hosting the club. While they are at the meeting, they can do a craft that involves the book, and the hosting mother can have a book related snack. My mother and I did this at one point, and we read the Magic tree House Book: Vacation under the Volcano. We all made tiny volcanoes and at the end we ate a giant chocolate volcano cake. It was a ton of fun.
Good Luck :)
2007-06-24 09:37:34 · answer #2 · answered by Kristen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest picking a topic that they both find interest in and making a huge project out of it. For example if they pick sharks then you can read about them, look up pictures on the internet of them, create "flashcards" with facts, and take them to an aquarium to see some sharks. If they love chocolate have them research how it's made, try melting it at home and have them read you the directions about how to make it into different shapes, learn about where chocolate comes from in nature and you can take them to Hershey Park, PA. Kids want to learn!! A project like this will not only encourage reading but research skills! A skill that is SO important in schools. With No Child Left Behind Standards being so high, children as young as first grade are expected to read non-fiction pieces and be able to answer questions about them. These projects would be an easy way to practice this skill! Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!!
2007-06-24 09:12:48 · answer #3 · answered by Elizabeth L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a school teacher friend that has an hour a day set aside to to "schoolwork" Basically things that he did not do very well in during the school year or will have to be familiar with for next school year. Usually that time is right before/after dinner when he is already home, but it is negotiable. His reward, he is ahead a bit in school and they make up incentives together that usually have nothing to do with school - Bowling with a friend, miniature golfing with a friend, Going to the water park, etc -most of these can be done at off peak days or hours for a discount.
2007-06-24 07:14:02 · answer #4 · answered by jdkkmac 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Careful, Mom! Make sure you are not pushing this! It may backfire.
If they already enjoy reading, and now that it is summer, enjoy playing and being more physically active, so be it!
Reading should be pleasurable, enjoyable. Not punishment.
How about:
1. Making labels with you for the spices in the kitchen?
2. Making labels with Dad for the tools in the garage?
3. Having them write their name on labels inside their clothing?
4. Playing a game taking turns to see who can read signs while riding in the car?
5. Or have them cut out little labels (with safety scissors) and write names of things around the house? Chair, Bed, TV, and see who can put up the most in 15 minutes?
6. Or turn them loose in the library for 15 minutes or a book store set up for children, and go in a section near there to keep an eye on them. They don't have to read the books!
What you need to keep alive this simmer is the joy of reading! No requirements for eading. That may squash their excitement.
How about a chore they do not particularly like being rewarded with either 15 minutes of book time, or 15 minutes of coloring? Let them choose!
Good luck!
2007-06-24 07:22:02 · answer #5 · answered by Still Me 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
its great you want them to read. i think that they are at the point of long picture books and short chapter books. there are many, many of those! I think that the reward for every 5 books is great! just make sure the reward is what they want.
just give them some books to read from the library and don't make reading like work, it should be fun! read together, ask questions, be sensitive. summer reading is fun. during the school year you can make it into homework.
2007-06-24 07:22:46 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ pandaheart ♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try motavating them to read like if they can read one whole book they get extra desert at dinner time or take them to a park if they can read a whole entire book or take them to the libary twice a week so they can pick any book they want and play reading games with them so they can have fun and learn something during the summer
2007-06-24 08:40:34 · answer #7 · answered by .:Wanda:. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like your idea of read 5 get 1 free! Great idea! I encourage my kids by having them readily available all over my house! We also make a bookmark for every novel that we read. Once the novel is read, we glue them in a book of their own. It's like medals to them. They can see their accomplishments as well (which is something to be proud of!). I have a subscription to the magazine 'OWL' which is great for a quick read, too! We also set aside time for reading out loud once a week, and the whole family does it.
2007-06-24 12:29:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My kids like to read too, and I also find during the summer months it is harder to sit down and read....I have recently purchased the first six Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy's series, since the Nancy Drew movie is coming out and I have a boy and girl, almost 9 and just 7 yrs. We are going to start reading each series....and I'm going to have each one read chapters here and there, but I was really looking forward to starting it out as a thing the three of us do together. We shall see.....Good Luck!
2007-06-24 11:23:54 · answer #9 · answered by reddevilbloodymary 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Positive reinforcement. Treat them with ice cream or a fun movie after reading. Your idea of buying a book for them is a fabulous form of positive reinforcement.
Always treat reading like it is a enjoyable thing to do. Get excited when you go to the bookstore.
2007-06-24 07:09:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like you're doing a good job! While I'm all for encouraging kids to read, it's also important for them to experience things. Perhaps if they are wanting to be outside, you can let them read outside? My daughter loves to sit in the shade with a favourite book.
2007-06-24 12:22:59 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋