This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Scholastic . The opinions and text are all mine. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Who’s ready for summer? This mom! And this mom’s kids who are counting down the days with a little chart they made and hung in the kitchen. It’s time for a break from school and some summer fun, and I’m already thinking about ways to prevent the ‘summer slide.’ You know, what happens to kids over the summer that causes them to forget how to hold a pencil at the beginning of the next school year? I’ve ordered a couple of workbooks to keep the language and math skills up to snuff, and our main strategy for sidestepping summer slide is to READ!
Preventing Summer Slide with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge
My kids love to read and be read to and we just signed them both up for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. They’re so excited to rack up their reading time and see how many minutes they can log this summer. If your kids are more reluctant readers (been there, done that) this is an awesome program because seeing those minutes stack up is a great motivator. Moms, this means you don’t need to be the motivator reminding your kids to read. Win!
My Kids’ Summer Reading Goals
I’ve had each of my kids set their own goals. Lily, entering 4th grade next year, is used to having to read 20 minutes per day during the school year so she’s sticking with that, though she usually reads more than that. And Leo, who will be entering first grade next year (My baby! Where does the time go?!) has set a goal to read one book per day on his own.
This awesome list of book suggestions for every age group is a great resource for us to discover some new titles that interest the kids.
“Power Up & Read” With Energizer
This summer’s Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge Theme is “Power Up & Read” sponsored by Energizer. They’re encouraging kids to read all summer long and unlock 12 original short stories by bestselling children’s authors as kids reach reading milestones. Another motivator to keep logging those minutes!
Energizer Instant Win Game
Energizer and Scholastic are partnering to create the “Power the Possibilities” campaign which gives moms the tools they need to unlock their child’s talents, fuel their ambitions and set them up for future success. Starting May 4, 2015, parents can buy any specially marked pack of Energizer® brand batteries to scratch for a chance to win one of thousands of prizes that will power discovery and learning.
Prizes include a family trip to New York City, a Scholastic Study Corner Makeover, a tablet with Scholastic apps, a library of Scholastic books and more! Everyone who plays can also download free digital stories for their family.
Scholastic Parenting Videos & Reading Tips
If you could use some tips to encourage your kids to read or make it fun for them, the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge videos are a fantastic resource. I just watched a few myself and got some great ideas. Parenting expert, Maggie McGuire (VP of Scholastic Parents Channel – Scholastic.com) provides tips and book choices for all ages this summer.
Since we hit the beach a few times each summer and like to stay busy, reading on the go can be a challenge for me. This video has some great tips to keep the kids reading even when you’re not at home.
Power Up & Read Parenting Tip: Reading On The Go
Related Resources from Scholastic Parents:
- 6 Tips for Taking Reading on the Road
- Reading Checklist: What to Bring for Reading Adventures
- Bring Books to Life: Take a Reading Field Trip
- The Benefits and Pleasures of Listening to Audio Books
In fact, there are TONS of tips in this collection of Scholastic Resources to help find books that your kids will love and keep them reading all summer and beyond.
How Do I Sign My Kids Up?
It’s so easy! Just go to the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge website to sign your kids up. You’ll need to do them each individually, and I love this part about the program: you don’t need to enter any identifiable information about your children to get their accounts open. They can choose fun fictitious names so it’s completely safe. If they choose to just log in and record their minutes, great! And if they want to, there are tons of fun resources online including games, chats, and fun ways to customize their profile.
You can find these printables for your kids to sign up, log their minutes and more in the Parents section of the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge website. Once you’re signed up, log in with your kids regularly to log their reading minutes. The program runs from May 4 through September 4, 2015.
Where Can I Learn More?
There’s all the info you’d need on the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge website. Parents, I love this huge set of resources for us to find books our kids will love. Follow Scholastic on Twitter to stay in touch with other summer readers and get lots of reading encouragement!
When you’re out shopping be sure to look for those specially marked packages of Energizer batteries for your shot at winning the Energizer Instant Win Game! Power Up & Read with that bunny that never stops on the Energizer Facebook page, too.
Join me and my kids. We’re all signed up and ready to read! Last year’s SCholastic Summer Reading Challenge landed a world record of 304,749,681 minutes logged. Let’s break it this year!
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