Let’s Grow Readers this Summer!

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The best thing about summer reading is the weather. The longer and sunnier days make this the warmest season of the year.

As a child, the most exciting part of the summer was getting to spend time with my family, friends, and neighbors. A very active and curious kid, my summers represented extra time to explore, create, be messy, have fun and be with family members. Like other children my age, school days were also busy. After school, there were “after-school” activities; tutors, homework, and sports.

One summer, my mother took my sister and me to summer camp. I had a huge meltdown; I started crying and complaining and told my mother that I didn’t want to stay at the camp. My mom, like most mothers, started worrying. She began asking the usual questions: was someone being mean to me or had something happened to cause this reaction? As a typical kid, I couldn’t explain my feelings but what I did know was that I didn’t wanted to stay. Instead, I told her “Mom, I just want to stay with you today.”

As an adult and as an early childhood professional, I now have a better understanding of what was happening to me that day. Even though I was an independent child, sometimes I just needed to spend time with my mom and dad.

As a grown-up, I understand that most of my life skills were learned from daily interactions with my family as well as social interactions with friends and the community. I never went to a “life skills” summer camp or class. Instead, my knowledge came directly from my adult caregivers and peers.

Visiting your local library will help you develop pre-school readiness skills for your child.

Benefits of visiting your library this summer:

Free & fun activities
Libraries are accessible
Summer reading programs:

This year’s summer reading theme is “Libraries Rock”, and honestly our libraries rock! You can find your nearest local library visiting the following link: https://www.coloradolibraries.org/

Teachable moments:

These are every day and simple life experiences that can be used to teach something to anyone. When we read books to our children and have conversation about the book, we are creating a teachable moment. Children can learn about emotions and how to deal with them by reading a book about feelings and emotions. When children are able to identify and familiarize themselves with the situation, they can learn through the character and the story about their emotions. Libraries are full of teachable moments!

Family and Community engagement:

Giving you and your family the opportunity to interact with members of your community in a safe environment.

Some tips

Follow up your Colorado Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar. Summer months are full of entertaining and easy-to-do activities. (ask your local library for one)
Start a caregiver book club! (Or a Mother-Daughter book club, Father-Son book club, Dad-Daughter book club, Mother-Son book club, etc.) (PBS has a resource on how to start a club: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/reading-language/reading-tips/how-to-start-a-book-club-for-kids/)

Recommended apps and website to grow your reader this summer:

Grow a reader (APP). This mobile app takes the fun, interactive content from our popular early literacy programs and delivers it to parents via their smartphone or tablet.
On this website, you will find songs and rhymes that will help you build your reader this summer. https://www.storyblocks.org/

More summer readings incentive programs around Colorado

Bronco Bookworm. Read 5 books, submit your log, and receive the following: Certificate of Achievement, Broncos Bookmark, an invitation to Exclusive On-Field Bookworms Recognition Event and an opportunity to win Broncos tickets.
Colorado Rapids Reading Program. The Colorado Rapids Summer Reading Program provides Colorado area kids an opportunity to participate in their local Library District’s reading program and receive complimentary tickets to Rapids games as a prize.
Chuck E. Cheese summer reading fun! Kids can earn 10 free Chuck E. Cheese tokens for reading each day for 2 weeks. As a bonus: this reading program is year-round.
Book it program (Pizza Hut Summer Reading) This program motivates children to read by rewarding their reading accomplishments with praise, recognition, and pizza. Visit the following link to learn more about i: http://www.bookitprogram.com/

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