How To: Enjoying Summer Reading

We all know that reading is important, but during the summertime, it's often the last thing kids want to do. How can you as a parent encourage your child to be a summer reader? Ginger Joe, M.Ed., Ed.S., Ed.D., a teacher on Le Bonheur's Child Life team, offers some suggestions.

"Everything around us involves reading. There's reading for survival as you're driving on the streets, reading menus to order your meals, reading your e-mails, Facebook, Twitter and even texting," said Joe.

But reading can be fun, too, especially when you find a good book that takes you into another world. Most kids like to be adventurous - and what better, safe way than a good book, says Joe.

Joe says parents can make reading fun by taking kids to their local library. Check there for summer reading books or programs. Some libraries offer a summer reading list with incentives for finishing a book. Search websites on the library computer for your child's favorite authors and topics. If he loves bugs, find a book all about his favorite insects.

Parents can also make reading a game, says Joe. Start a challenge amongst your family and have a night out to honor the reader of the most books within a designated length of time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also offers some reading-related tips, such as the following:

• Repetition is good ? it helps a child build important language skills.
• Reading doesn't have to be a huge project. Just a 3-minute story every night before bed will help get your child interested in reading.
• Little ones can learn to love books, too. Board books and soft books are good for infants to get used to holding a book in their hands ? and enjoying the experience.
• It's important for parents to set a good example, too.

"I strongly believe that when kids see their parents enjoying and talking about a good book, they will be willing to read more as well," said Joe.