How to Keep Children Reading over the Holidays
Children eagerly anticipate the holidays as a time for relaxation and a shift to a more leisurely lifestyle. However, this break can lead to a decline in their reading skills, commonly referred to as the "holiday slide." This term describes the decrease in reading proficiency that often occurs when reading is neglected during the break.
To counteract this trend, parents need to encourage their children to continue reading amidst the holiday festivities. In this blog, we share our top tips to ensure your child remains engaged with reading during the break.
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Tips for Sustaining Kids' Reading Habits
Inject fun into reading time by using amusing voices, incorporating humorous books to captivate reluctant readers, and aiming for concise sessions of no more than ten minutes of shared reading.
Throughout the summer holidays, take your children regularly to bookstores and the local library. This practice can cultivate a love for reading, as many bookstores and libraries offer popular children's books for less than $10. Moreover, numerous public libraries allow children to borrow up to twenty books for their holiday and summer reading, free of charge.
Empower children to choose their reading materials. Encourage them to select their books, fostering the development of strong, independent readers.
Integrate a screen-free night into your family routine. During this time, each family member suggests book recommendations and takes turns reading aloud. This not only promotes a love for reading among children but also underscores the value, enjoyment, and fun of reading by witnessing their parents engage with books.
Consider giving books as gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Encourage your children to share and exchange books with friends after finishing them.
When reading together, provide children with options on how they'd like to engage with the material. Allow them to choose whether to read aloud or silently and inquire if they prefer to discuss the content or attempt paired reading if they seek additional support with the material.
Christmas Holidays
The Christmas break provides children with a fantastic opportunity to unwind and embrace a more leisurely pace of life. However, it's essential to keep them engaged with reading to maintain their reading skills.
Parents can effortlessly incorporate reading into holiday activities by integrating it into various festive pursuits. Encouraging children to craft and share stories or read Christmas cards can be a delightful means of infusing reading into the season. Moreover, parents can set reading goals for their children's school books, document them, and establish a reward system to celebrate the achievement of these objectives.
Enhancing the Reading Adventure with Enjoyable Elements
To elevate the reading experience, encourage children to maintain a reading journal. Within this journal, they can document their thoughts on the books they read, create illustrations, or even compile a collage of challenging words using just one word. This not only keeps children actively engaged and interested in reading but also contributes to the enhancement of their writing skills.
Furthermore, parents and teachers can instil a love for reading by engaging in family reading sessions. This not only fosters precious bonding moments but also cultivates a reading habit in children.
For more interactive ideas, parents can introduce a holiday reading challenge. In this challenge, children within specific age groups are provided with a list of books to choose from and read within a set timeframe. Completing the holiday reading challenge can be rewarded with incentives such as a trip to the bookstore or a visit to a favourite restaurant.
Participating in Local Literary Community Activities
During the holiday season, explore nearby community events that celebrate and promote reading. Many towns and cities host festive literary gatherings, book fairs, or storytelling sessions, offering an opportunity to enhance your child's reading experience. Attending these events can introduce them to new authors, involve them in book-related activities, and provide a chance to connect with like-minded peers. These gatherings create a vibrant literary atmosphere, emphasising that reading is not only an individual pursuit but a shared passion that can unite communities. By involving your child's teacher in these enriching experiences, you not only foster a love for reading but also instil a sense of belonging in the broader world of literature.
Establishing Reading Objectives for the School Break
Making reading an engaging challenge, especially for older children, involves setting clear and achievable reading goals. Customise a list of books based on their interests or explore new genres together. Define reachable milestones and celebrate their accomplishments with small rewards, such as a special treat or a visit to the local library. This approach not only fosters a habit of consistent reading but also nurtures a sense of achievement.
In addition to these activities and joint summer reading, consider involving your child in a book club or a reading community. Numerous online platforms offer virtual book clubs for kids, providing a platform for them to explore and discuss their favourite books and magazines with peers. This not only enhances their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills but also encourages them to share their passion for literature and storytelling with others.
Remember, the key is to infuse enjoyment into reading and seamlessly integrate it into the holiday season. By incorporating these creative strategies, you'll not only sustain your children's interest in reading during the holidays but also foster a lasting love for books and learning.
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