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Summer Family Fun: Reading Together

June 25, 2014 By Kelly 36 Comments

Many of my fondest memories from childhood involve a good book and a lazy summer day. I have always been an avid reader though I am the first to admit that e-books don’t have the same appeal and that has led to reading less over the last several years.

We’ve raised readers, too. Even our child that struggles with reading loves to read comics. I’ll take it. It’s all about getting them reading and encouraging it every day.

Below are some ideas to get your kids engaged and reading and a list of books I will be reading this summer, as well as a list of the kids’ favorites.

Summer Family Fun: Reading Together

Do As I Do:
To get kids reading they need to see you reading. This summer I’m making a personal challenge to read 8 books-one per week of summer. They can be anything from beach reads to personal finance books, but 8 in total. Front to back. Thousands of words. New worlds to be lost in. New information to learn. Create your own personal challenge and get a stack of books to read.

Encourage Reading Through Rewards:
Rewarding behavior we want to encourage may seem a bit like bribery, but for some kids it is just what you need. Our kids have their own summer reading incentives. We are using a token system (more on that soon) and one of the ways you can ‘hit it big’ with tokens is through reading. Already just 3 days into this system and the kids are reading more than they normally would. It’s been really awesome to see. Leticia at Tech Savvy Mama shares a list of Summer Reading Programs for Kids that offer up prizes like free movies, books, and other rewards.

Make ‘Reading Time’
When our kids were little we read bedtime stories before naps and at bedtime. Since they have grown into elementary aged kids they read on their own, but generally only at bedtime. This summer I’m instituting a midday break for reading. Instead of a nap or ‘quiet time’ we’ll gather around and read books in the same room. Sometimes out loud, sometimes on our own.

List of Books I’m Reading This Summer:

  1. The Most Dangerous Animal of All: Searching for My Father . . . and Finding the Zodiac Killer
  2. Written in My Own Heart’s Blood: A Novel (Outlander)
  3. The Goldfinch: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
  4. Aloha Also Means Goodbye (I already read this but I’m reading it again!)
  5. Thinking, Fast and Slow
  6. Pro-Blogging Secrets: Strategies, Tips, and Answers You Need to Grow Your Blog and Earn More Money
  7. Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
  8. Death of a Nightingale (Nina Borg #3)

List of Kid’s Favorites:

  1. Captain Awesome vs. Nacho Cheese Man
  2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians 3 Book Paperback Boxed Set with new covers (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
  3. How to Train Your Dragon
  4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck: 8
  5. The 39 Clues Book 1: The Maze of Bones
  6. The Heidi Heckelbeck Collection: A Bewitching Four-Book Boxed Set

Kelly

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

About Kelly


Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

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Filed Under: Kids Tagged With: books, Kids, reading


Comments

  1. Sarah says

    June 28, 2014 at 12:31 pm

    looking forward to reading the fault in our stars! also recently watched the spectacular now, which i heard was based off of a book, so would love to read that one as well. 🙂

  2. Mrsrkfj says

    June 26, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    I’m looking forward to reading the complete Sherlock Holmes collection.

  3. Thien-Kim says

    June 26, 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Ooh The Goldfinch is long! I enjoyed most of it.

  4. Tami says

    June 26, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    Yeah, but it was free-so I’m not complaining!

  5. ticklesandto says

    June 26, 2014 at 9:25 am

    I am looking forward to reading I know why the cagebird sings by maya angelou

  6. Robbie @ Indy Oils says

    June 26, 2014 at 6:41 am

    Reading Rick Riordan’s Kane series currently./

  7. nichola says

    June 25, 2014 at 10:53 pm

    something that my daughter can enjoy with me. maybe a nice story to read every night.

  8. Melanie Sheridan says

    June 25, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    I think I’m going to start re-reading the Outlander series in anticipation of the TV series, and I’m looking forward to the last in the Discovery of Witches trilogy.

  9. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    Thanks!

  10. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    I’m not sure I can handle that one right now.

  11. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    Nice!

  12. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    I hear you! I used to do that but my oldest was a voracious reader so eventually I had to start relying on review sites.

  13. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    Anything specific?

  14. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    Just make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand!

  15. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:34 pm

    I love her writing. I always think it’s funny they are categorized as ‘romance’ since it feel much more like historical fiction with a side of romance.

  16. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    Love Jennifer Weiner’s books.

  17. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    I am NOT reading that one. Too many tears I hear.

  18. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    So old school!

  19. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:31 pm

    I need to add that to my list. Just looked at the book on Amazon and it looks fascinating.

  20. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    There are so many to choose from!

  21. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    Oh wow! We read them with our now oldest so re-reading them with our other kids has been such a treat.

  22. Kelly Whalen says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    I always rediscover books-like the real thing!-when I’m traveling. Definitely hoping to make time for some backyard/beach reading this summer.

  23. Kathie Smith Tokay says

    June 25, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    Rediscovered my love of reading on my travels last month. Awesome giveaway!

  24. Alissa Boyle says

    June 25, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    I’m looking forward to reading Harry Potter (for the first time) with my son. I waited on reading the books and seeing the movies until he was old enough to read/see them with me… and I’m so happy I waited!

  25. Carson says

    June 25, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    I’m re-reading the Tom Clancy books

  26. Money Matters says

    June 25, 2014 at 2:29 pm

    I’m looking forward to reading a biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt called “The First Tycoon”.

  27. Tami says

    June 25, 2014 at 1:56 pm

    Would love a kindle. Our family is currently sharing an IPad 1st gen.!

  28. steve weber says

    June 25, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    The Fault In Our Stars

  29. Leslie says

    June 25, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    All Fall Down by Jennifer Weiner!

  30. mommyneedstherapy says

    June 25, 2014 at 1:05 pm

    Written in my own hearts blood is next on my list! So excited it is finally out!

  31. Candice says

    June 25, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    I really want to read The Fault in Our Stars. I have heard great things, but just haven’t had time.

  32. niri says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:51 am

    More fictional stories that help me get swept in another world

  33. Cindy says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:43 am

    I never get time to read, so I’m just finishing up Divergent! haha! I really like to read all the books my daughter wants to read before she picks them up herself.

  34. FashionablyOrganized says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:35 am

    I’m excited to read so many books! My oldest and I have a contest who can read more this summer? So far he’s up 1. 😀

  35. Mommy Reporter says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:33 am

    I am looking forward to reading The Fault in Our Stars.

  36. Mommy Reporter says

    June 25, 2014 at 11:32 am

    What a great giveaway!

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Hi! I'm Kelly Whalen, writer, frugality expert, debt slayer, and money nerd. Welcome to the Centsible Life, my corner of the internet, where I help women live happier, healthier, and wealthier lives. My goal is to help you save time + money, so you can spend both how you want.

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