Reading is an activity that should occur all year round but it can be made into a fun
summertime activity too. If each child doesnt have their own library card yet, that is a
good place to start. While you are there, see if there is any summer reading programs
available to join. If there are, great sign-up the kids but if there isnt start one of your
own.
Most summer reading programs will focus on getting children to read as many stories as
they can in a set period of time. For younger children who cant read yet, each book that
is read to them will count as one book towards the final tally. You may want to break the
program up into smaller chunks, either two-one month programs or hold one every two
weeks.
Have the children keep a list of the name of the book they read and the day (or date range
if it is a chapter book). You may find that you are taking frequent trips to the library as
your kids are going through the books, but that is a great thing! This will teach children
to be responsible for their library books and the importance of taking care of things that
do not belong to them.
You can award prizes to the child with the most books read, something small like a
bookmark or you can take them to a book store to purchase a book that they can keep. If
you do decide to give out prizes, consider having small second and third place awards
too. Whenever children are showing an interest in reading your want to cultivate and
encourage it. Something as simple as a blue ribbon or a certificate printed from the
computer with their name on it saying they completed the reading contest will be fine.