Summer reading programs started early this month and we have already been logging our reading! My apologies that this post is so late, though. For many of you, summer started a month ago. For me, summer just started mid-last week. I am getting back to blogging and continuing to share family resources for summer.
I love having a concrete way to encourage my kids to read in the summer. Of course, we spend much time on outings, camp, swimming, and special treats. However, when we are home, I hate for them to spend all their time on screens!
During the summer, your kids can earn rewards for reading by participating in one or several summer reading programs. These incentive programs are a great way to help bridge the summer gap in learning and retention and to help your kids earn some great prizes for doing an already-rewarding activity.
For years, my kids have participated in several reading programs. Our favorite programs have been the ones offered by our local county library system, our local Jewish community library, and Half Price Books. Some programs even offer kick-off and finishing events with crafts, snacks, and entertainment! (Perhaps not this year, though.)
For my easy form to log your child’s reading, see my post Record your summer reading with ease! I like recording their reading on one form and then transferring it at the end of the summer to each program’s form. This makes it much easier to keep track of it all! With my kids being older now, I have the form on a clipboard so they can record it on their own.
Here are some suggestions of summer reading programs:
∞ Local libraries – Find out if your municipality library has its own summer reading program. This makes it very convenient for redeeming logs for prizes.
∞ County or city library system – In St. Louis, the county and city have their own sets of libraries that are separate from the municipality library in our town. Both systems have their own summer reading programs. The prizes often include books, coupons, special events like museum nights or pool parties, baseball tickets, excursion tickets, and more! They have programs for all ages, too!
Be sure to also ask at your local libraries for a schedule of FREE summer events and programs! Many include famous authors and family-friendly performances. I scour each year’s guide to decide which different free events I will bring my kids to. We travel all around town to go to great free events!
∞ Adult summer reading programs – Ask at your local library if they have an Adult Summer Reading program. I have seen many listed on individual library websites. You might be able to earn some prizes, too!
NOTE: To find a United States public library near you, check out the Public Libraries website.
∞ Professional sports’ teams – Check with your local teams to see if they are offering a summer reading program.
∞ Barnes & Noble – Kids in grades 1 – 6 can earn a free book (from a selection of books) after reading 8 books, logging them, and writing a few details about them. Students should bring their completed journals to a Barnes & Noble store between July 1 and August 31, 2020. Click on your child’s age to download the journal and see details.
∞ Half Price Books – This bookseller has a Feed Your Brain summer reading program. This year kids can log their reading and enter for a chance to win one of 30 $15 HPB gift cards. Their website also features coloring pages, online storytimes, and book recommendations.
∞ Chuck E. Cheese’s – This amusement offers reward calendars for kids for doing various things including reading. If your child reads a book every day for 2 weeks, he or she can earn 10 free play points. One offer per child can be redeemed in a day. Food purchase is required, though (not beverage), so this may not work for any families that keep kosher. Scroll down the page to see the Reading Rewards calendars. The offer expires Dec. 31, 2020.
∞ Books-a-Million – Kids can earn a free Dog Man logo hat after they read four participating books and complete the Summer Reading Adventure journal form. Supplies are limited, though.
∞ Amazon Retail stores – Children up to age 14 or 8th grade can earn $1 off their next book purchase at Amazon Books stores after reading 8 books this summer and keeping a list. Program runs through Sept. 2.
∞ H.E.B. Grocery stores – Children ages 3-12, who are residents of Texas, can participate in this program. Kids have to read ten books, log them on the journal, and can then earn a free t-shirt. The program runs until Oct. 1, 2020.
If you are aware of any other national programs (that suit our readers), please let me know in the Comments section!
Related articles:
Surviving on a tight budget 
Leave a Reply