Summer Reading Program Info for Parents

Try these searches for books about encouraging your child to read:
- Parent participation
- Reading for Preschoolers
- Reading in Kindergarten
- Reading for Elementary Schoolers

Check out these books in our catalog: staff will be glad to assist you.

- The Between The Lions Book For Parents: Everything You Need To Know To Help Your
Child Learn To Read. By Linda K. Rath and Louise Kennedy
- Family Storybook Reading. By Denny Taylor and Dorothy S. Strickland
- What your preschooler needs to know. By E. D Hirsch
- How To Get Your Child To Love Reading. By Esme Raji Codell
- Keeping Kids Reading: How To Raise Avid Readers In The Video Age. By Mary Leonhardt

Helping Your Child Enjoy Reading During The Summer Vacation

As a parent your support and involvement are an important part of your child's
summer reading success. Here are some ideas that can help make this summer's reading program a fun and positive experience for your child.

- Help your child set a realistic goal for summer reading. Sit down together and
agree on a time that will be spent reading each week or a number of books that your child will try to read during the summer vacation.

- Establish a regular time for reading in your home for all members of your family.
Having a set time several times a week when everyone reads for fifteen to thirty minutes
shows your children that you value books and reading.

- Offer to share stories with your children. Encourage your children to share favorite
stories with you. Reading aloud to an adult or telling a story allows the child to practice
important skills of oral reading and comprehension.

- Talk about books together. Tell your child about something you have read and let her
tell you about what she is reading. Occasionally read something your child has enjoyed.

- Appreciate all the books your child selects, even the ones that look "too easy." Like
adults, children like to read some books that are fun and effortless to read.

- Read aloud to your child. Even when children are able to read, they still enjoy listening
to books read aloud. Reading a chapter or two of a children's novel every day also helps
increase children's listening skills.

- When you are on long car trips, read a book aloud or listen to an audio book as
a family. It's a great way to pass the time.

- Bring your child to the library often. In addition to books and other materials,
the library offers special programs for children throughout the summer.

For More Info:
Family Literacy Facts contains statistics on how reading to children in their early childhood promotes successful reading experiences later. It also contains great tips on how to share and when to share books with children.

Literacy for All Ages contains action steps for parents to promote literacy for children
from birth through adolescence.