Summer Reading Program for Kids {FREE printables}

Now that we're back from vacation, I'm starting to deal with the dreaded "Summer Electronics Rules." Every parent I know with kids old enough to operate a video game has the same problem. It goes something like this:

Me: Payton, you've got 5 more minutes of computer time.
Payton: What?!? I've only been playing for 20 minutes!
Me: That's 20 minutes too long. Go find something else to do. It's summer! Go outside! Play!
Payton: It's too hot outside. There's nothing to do.
Me: Find something to do.

And usually he will go find something to do, or someone to play with, but inevitably, later in the day, he's asking to play video games again.

I don't have a problem with him playing on some electronics this summer. I realize it's the age in which we live. But I do have a problem with electronics when I feel like it's an isolating activity. For example, if he's playing Team Fortress Two alone on his computer, he tunes out the entire world that's happening around him. But if he's playing Minecraft with three of his friends in the same room, then they're talking and creating and having fun together.

We're still adjusting our summer electronics rules, but for now, it seems like he does best if he stays off electronics all morning and does something like a camp, or go the pool with friends, and then has a chunk of time to play them in the afternoon. We'll see how this goes as the summer continues.

Fortunately, aside from video games, Payton really loves to read. And he'll read just about anything that I suggest. He's read a lot of the classics (Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, Charlotte's Web, The B.F.G., Trumpet of the Swan, The Witches, The Prince and the Pauper) and several of the Harry Potter books, plus a lot of mystery series that I've picked up at the library.

So, when I'm stuck at one of those moments when it's time for him to shut off the electronics, but there's not a friend to play with, reading is always a great activity for him. And to make it even more fun, we've been using this reading rewards program the past few years:
 









It's a free downloadable reading chart for kids of any age and it works kind of like Bingo. The child reads for a pre-determined amount of time in all sorts of places/times/situations (on a Wednesday, under a tree, before breakfast, etc.) and then crosses off the box when they've completed it. Once they get a "Bingo" they get to redeem a reward "coupon."

The reward coupons are blank, so you can fill in whatever you like (movies with a friend, a music download from itunes, frozen yogurt, etc.). It's worked so well in years past, Payton actually asked me to create another one for this summer.

You have to subscribe to the web site called "How Does She" in order to download it, but I think the emails they send out are really useful and interesting so I'd probably subscribe to it even if it didn't offer free printables! Here's a link to the page where you can read more about the reading chart and subscribe if you wish.

And if you've got any great book ideas that you or your kids have loved, please send em along!

Happy reading y'all!

Summer Reading

We've started to settle into our new summertime groove around here.

Slow and steady.

Nothing too structured. Nothing too stressful. Just laid back activities that feel like slipping into your favorite sandals and going for a nice stroll around the neighborhood while a warm breeze floats along your shoulders.

We've had plenty of fun playdates, but we've also instituted the "Summer Electronics Rules" which leads to much more reading and writing around this house than is ever done during the school year.

Payton loves to read. He truly does. But if he had the choice between reading and the computer... he'll choose the computer every. single. time.

So, the fact that I've already spent $4 for a book on his Kindle and picked up 4 more reserved books at the library for his 3rd grade reading challenge (more on that later), shows that he's consuming books like they were crunchy, orange Cheetos.

Since Payton pretty much has to read a few times throughout the day, I thought it would be good for Parker to start reading at the same time. Of course, he can't really read, but I can read to him, or he can flip through the pages of his favorite books and enjoy the process of looking at books.

So, now we have "QRT" each day.

Quiet Reading Time consists of at least a few minutes of Parker looking at books on his own, and then me reading a few to him. All the while, Payton is reading his own book, either near us or in his room.

This allows me some quiet time in the house   which is few and far between these days - and it gives both boys a set time to really get used to reading.

Payton developed a love for reading very early on and I am praying Parker does the same.

You may remember this reading rewards chart we used last summer. It worked really well, but this year, I'm planing something a little different.

Next school year, Payton wants to participate in the school's "Battle of the Books" which is basically a reading comprehension contest made up of teams of students. So, along with his report card, we received a list of all the books that will be included in next year's 3rd grade Battle of the Books.

So instead of instituting a reading rewards chart, basically, Payton is just going to read through all of these "Battle Books" and when those are completed he gets a reward. He'll get to choose the reward, and since some of these books are quite lengthy, the reward will be significant. Probably a visit to a theme park.

But for those of you who are looking for other reading rewards systems for the summer, I highly encourage you to check out your local library, where I found two great reading programs - one of which rewards the child with a free Rays baseball ticket if they read 72 hours this summer! Not a bad incentive!

Of course, you can also just Google "Reading Reward Charts" and you'll have a plethora of choices from companies who encourage kids to read (e.g. Chuck E. Cheese has a rewards chart that gives the kids free tokens), to crafty moms who have come up with fun rewards charts like this one from Chicken Babies where you put reward tickets inside of balloons and then let the kids pop them when they achieve certain reading goals.

Point is, there are so many options out there to help encourage your children to read this summer. And trust me, there's nothing more beautiful than the sound of quiet reading during a long summer day.

Here's to more reading and less computers this summer! 

Oh... and what will I be reading this summer? Well, I just finished up "Bloom" by Kelle Hampton, and I am waiting for my library to get in "Carry On Warrior" by Glennon Doyle Melton, "Daring Greatly: How the courage to be vulnerable transforms the way we live, love, parent and lead" by Brene Brown. My mom also gave me "While We Were Watching Downton Abbey" by Wendy Wax. Lots of different types of books for my variety-seeking mind to devour. What will you be reading this summer?

Last Minute Summer Preparations

Summer break is only 4 short days away, so I am trying to get a lot of things crossed off my list before I have 2 little ones home all day. One item on my "to do" list is... our Summer "To Do" List!

I did this last year too and Payton had so much fun checking off the activities as we completed them. It's also a really fun thing to create together because you learn what your kids want to do with you over the break.

This is how ours turned out this year:

 It is now boldly displayed on the side of the kitchen cabinet ready for someone to just check off some fun! Speaking of checking off some fun... did you notice the very top "to do" item? Payton wanted to make sure that "FUN" was our top priority this summer. :)

Another thing I needed to do was create a "Summer Electronics Rules List." It sounds harsh, but TV and video games can become babysitters during the summer and I don't want that to happen. I want him to keep up his reading level, learn some Spanish, play with his brother, and help out around the house instead of being glued to the TV during his downtime. So I created a document that we can have posted in the house so that we're not arguing about it. He'll know what I expect and he'll have a list of things he can do to earn "bonus" time. Leave me a comment, or email me if you would like a copy of the document.


A fun thing I came across also has to do with keeping up his reading this summer. It's from one of my favorite blogs called "How Does She." It's called the "Summer Reading Star Kit" and you enter the password "Welcome" to download the free printables. 

Basically it's a Bingo board with each square listing a time or place to read. You enter the amount of time you want the child to read for each place and then they get to cross off a square each time they complete the reading. When they get "Bingo" they get to choose a coupon to "cash in." The great thing is, YOU get to fill in the coupons! So, I got to choose things I thought were appropriate (and not a ton of work on my part). For example: Stay up late one night; No veggies at dinner; Special dessert of your choice, etc.

He was so excited when I showed it to him after school today. He loves reading, but this just adds a bit of excitement to it!

Oh! I almost forgot! When the child gets a "blackout" - or crosses off every single square on the board -  they get a "Golden Ticket!" Ours is good for a trip to Chuck E. Cheese with a friend - he can't wait!

(I mounted my Bingo chart onto blue cardstock and then attached an envelope to the bottom to hold the coupons.)

One more thing I printed off today was a little Graduation Certificate to Chuck E. Cheese good for 10 free tokens. I am going to include it in his graduation gift (more to come on this later). You can download it here for free if you have a CEC lover in your household too. :)

 I hope some of these ideas inspire you to create a fun summer for your kiddos! We're bursting at the seams for the summer fun to begin. :)