Summer Reading Can Help Kids Get Off to a Strong Start

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As kids across the country prepare to head back to school, parents are focusing on helping their kids get off on the right foot for the coming school year. Though they used to be commonplace, summer reading lists have fallen by the wayside in many school districts.

While summer reading may no longer be mandatory in many school districts, that doesn't mean kids can't read during their summer vacations. Parents can greatly improve their child's chances of starting the school year off on the right foot by encouraging them to read throughout the summer. To get kids enthusiastic about summer reading, consider the following tips, courtesy of the Literary Council of Alaska.

• Read to and with your child. A daily routine that includes reading with or to your child can help kids embrace reading. Kids often look forward to spending time with Mom and Dad, and will therefore be less likely to see reading as merely another summer chore.

• Go beyond books. Summer reading doesn't have to be limited to just books. Kids can gain a lot from reading the local newspaper, and parents can also subscribe to magazines tailored to children, such as Sports Illustrated for Kids or even the classic Highlights magazine for younger children.

• Discuss what you're reading with each other. Engage children in discussions about the books they're reading. If you show interest, they're liable to be more interested themselves. In addition, discuss books you read as a child with your children.

• Get kids their own library card. Take kids to the library once or twice a week and let them find their own reading materials. Kids with their own library cards can even visit the local library on their own, especially on hot summer afternoons when the air conditioning at the library can be a welcoming respite from the summer heat.

* Provide a good example. Kids routinely emulate what their mothers and fathers do, and much of their behavior is learned from Mom and Dad as well. Let your kids see you reading on a regular basis, and they're more likely to embrace reading as a result.