Great Ways to Get Your Kids Excited About Reading!

Nothing could go wrong for kids as they enjoy their long summer days, right? According to one study from the University of Tennessee, kids can lose two months of reading development over the summer. The solution to the infamous “summer slide”? Get your kids excited about reading!

Here’s how:

1. Find Books Related to Your Child’s Interests.

Don’t expect your child to go wild reading Shakespeare and Charles Dickens if they loathe them. Find books related to their interests. If they absolutely love video games, they may be interested in the Diary of a Minecraft Zombie books or the Hello Neighbor series. Mystery fans may fall in love with the classic Nancy Drew. It’ll be a win/win for you and your young readers!

2. Turn Reading Time into Funtime.

The typical reward for a child’s good behavior is a scrumptious dessert, TV time, or a weekend with the PlayStation 5. Why not make time out of the day for your child to read whatever they want? Remember to let your child read whatever they want. Let them do it at least 15-30 minutes a day. Eventually, they’ll be more excited about reading time than staring at Netflix.

3. Book Field Trips.

Take reading to the next level by taking your readers on field trips. It can be anywhere from your local park to the downtown zoo! The Georgia Aquarium would be worth a trip after your child has read Marcus Pfister’s The Rainbow Fish. Use your Imagination! Books can take them anywhere.

4. Read with Your Kids.

Kids learn by example. Be an aspiring figure. If your kids catch you reading, they might do the same. Spend some time reading with your kids. The more, the merrier!

5. Offer Fun Reading Challenges.

What better way to get excited about reading if rewards are involved? Libraries, including our Gwinnett County Public Library, hosts annual fun-filled summer reading challenges. You can sign you and your kids up at Beanstack or come into any of our branches to learn more about our summer activities! The best way to lift your child’s reading motivation is to let them choose their reading adventures!