It’s summer, which means no kid is being FORCED to read for school. If you’re like me, you still want to encourage your children to read so they don’t slide back when school starts again.
I’ve rounded up several reading reward programs (one is local to Utah, but the rest are open to anyone) to help you get your kids reading this summer! Make sure you check your local library, too. Ours are offering digital programs that are easy to enroll in.
Little Mama Shirt Shop reading challenge. Technically, this reading program rewards YOU for reading to your kids, so I thought I’d start with that. You deserve a reward for reading, too! Go to Chynna’s site, download the reading log, add a checkmark each time you read to your kids, and then list your favorite books on the back. Send her a picture of the completed chart (200 books, but you’ve got this) and she’ll send you a coupon code for her shop. We love all her cute tees (I even got my husband and kids matching Daddy/baby shark shirts last year). I also love that she encourages parents and kids to read.
Barnes & Noble summer reading journal. This program for kids in grades 1-6 is SO simple, and I love that. Have your kids read just eight books, write the titles and what they liked best about them, and bring the completed paper to a Barnes & Noble store to pick out a free book from the list. They offer some good titles, too, like Mercy Watson and Ramona Quimby books!
Read Today summer reading event. Utah friends, this is for you! Print off the cute baseball diamond and have your kids read for 20 minutes each day. They color in the baseballs and get rewards each time they reach one of the bases. One is a Happy Meal, which my kids probably would love more than a new book. Then email a picture of the completed baseball diamond before July 20. Easy and fun.
Scholastic Summer Read-a-Palooza. I like that this program rewards kids for reading every day and encourages them to see how long they can keep up their streak. They earn digital experiences when they log into Home Base, and they also unlock 100,000 books, which Scholastic donates to the United Way. I love that they’re giving back to families in need!
Book-It! reading program. I used to LOVE this program as a kid, because it rewards you with Pizza Hut pizza. I was shocked to find out that it still exists! Keep track of your kids’ reading time each day, and they earn different prizes for consistently reading.
I hope these motivate both you and your kids to read this summer! In some ways, I feel like it’s a good time to try to get into a new series, because normal activities are still limited here. Let me know if I missed any great summer programs!
