Summer break is the perfect time to read new stories, ignite the imagination, and explore new worlds. Get your children excited to read this summer with this easy to use summer reading challenge for kids.
Our Free Summer Reading Challenge aims to enhance literacy skills and build creativity, critical thinking, and a love for reading. So, get ready to inspire your little ones to dive into the wonderful world of reading and make this summer a season of discovery, learning, and fun!
Why I made the summer reading challenge for kids
There are many benefits of using a summer reading log for kids, which I share more about in this blog post. I use one mainly to keep my kids motivated and accountable for June, July, and August. We make reading part of daily summer routine. For us, that’s after lunch.
How to motivate your kids to read over the summer
Choose books with colorful illustrations, engaging stories, and relatable characters. For younger kids, consider interactive books that involve pop-ups, moveable pieces, and search and finds.
Take regular visits to the library or bookstore to let your kids search for and find new books they may be interested in. Whether your kids like dinosaurs, space, or computers, there are fiction and non-fiction books available on almost any topic.
Read different types of books, such as adventure novels, fictional stories, poetry, and non-fiction to find what your kids enjoy.
Spend time reading together, taking turns reading aloud. This is a wonderful bonding experience and helps children improve their reading skills.
Engage in activities related to the books your kids read, like drawing scenes or characters from the story, acting out parts, or writing an alternate ending.
Set up a reward system to celebrate their accomplishments. Rewards can be small, like stickers, or a special outing to encourage consistent reading habits.
How to participate in the summer reading challenge
We begin the reading challenge at the end of May, when I print out the materials each of my kids will use.
Set goals
Kids fill out the goal prompts and cut and paste them to their summer reading goals sheet.
Some of the prompts include:
Number of books per week/month/summer
Time spent reading each day/week/month
Number of reading days per month/summer
A list of books
Depending on the age of your children, you may want to help them create realistic reading goals for the summer. The last thing you want is for your kids to become overwhelmed this summer with unrealistic expectations, such as reading an entire book series in one week.
Record progress
Throughout June, July, and August, kids record their progress by coloring in a sun every day they read or listen to a story. Older kids can use the reading chart to record the number of books they have read.
If the amount of time is part of their goals, there are two game boards to keep track of the minutes read for the month or summer.
As kids work to meet their goals for the week or month, there are multiple ways to record their progress.
Celebrate accomplishments
Throughout the summer reading challenge, use the reward coupons to motivate your kids to read and celebrate their accomplishments.
I use the reward coupons as an extra incentive for when their enthusiasm begins to waver later in the summer. There's nothing like a trip to the pool to get them motivated.
Tips for success with your summer reading program
Children are very keen to watch and follow the lead of their parents. Let your kids see you reading books and magazines regularly.
Have a variety of books available at home. Make sure they are easy to find and cater to your children’s interests and reading levels.
Dedicate a specific time each day for reading. This could be after lunch, during a quiet time in the evening, or before bed.
Use e-readers, audiobooks, and reading apps to make reading more interactive and engaging. Many kids enjoy the multimedia experience. We have access to an online catalog of books through our local library membership that my kids enjoy using.
Ask your kids questions about the books they are reading, such as:
What is the book about?
Who are the characters? Do you have a favorite character?
Where does the story take place?
When does the story take place?
What do you rate the book on a scale from 1-5?
Remember that every child learns and reads at their own pace. Some may need more help than others. Make sure you’re patient and supportive while you help your kids build their confidence and interest in reading this summer.
If you think your kids will enjoy the summer reading challenge, click here to download it - it's FREE!