Here are 7 tips for parents and caregivers to help keep children engaged in reading during the summer months:

1.) Create a fun reading space

Set up a tent or create a reading fort. Add comfy pillows, bean bags and blankets along with a basket of books to make a fun, relaxing spot for reading. The possibilities are endless.

2.) Make a reading routine

Set aside a specific time each day to dedicate to reading. By making it a priority, you relay the message that reading is important. Make time to read together in addition to creating time for children to read on their own. A nighttime reading routine can help children associate reading with relaxing.

3.) Be a role model

Get caught reading! Children are known to model the actions of adults they love. When they see you enjoying a good book, they will follow your lead. Also, be a role model by reading aloud to your child no matter their age.

4.) Ensure reading materials are readily available

Make books easily accessible in the most used rooms of your home and carry them with you everywhere. Keep selections in your car. It’s also helpful to carry a bag of books for doctor visits, shopping trips, and long waits.

5.) Make reading an adventure: Visit libraries, bookstores, and take field trips

Take your child to your local library or bookstore. Picking out a book can be just as much fun as reading one. Sign up for a library card and take advantage of summer reading programs at your local public library. Feeling extra adventurous? Try a reading-inspired field trip! For example, if you read a book about dinosaurs, plan a visit to a local museum to learn more about them. Or, if you read a book about flowers, visit a local botanical garden.

6.) Encourage choice

Reading should be a choice not a chore. Allowing your child to choose the books they read gives them a sense of control. Graphic novels, magazines, nonfiction and newspapers should also be options in reading for pleasure. Allowing choice in reading materials goes a long way in raising life-long readers.

7.) Introduce your child to series

A book series can help keep reading interest high by keeping the “what happens next?” factor engaged. Series also address the problem of stalling between books because it eliminates the problem of figuring out what to read next!

These tips have been brought to you by Carol Nanney. The link for the original article is the following: https://blog.ed.gov/2019/06/7-tips-to-help-parents-make-summer-reading-fun/