Summer break is finally here for most of us, and now the challenge is on to keep the kids’ brains working, while having fun doing it. One of the big things for us is keeping the girls reading. While they do love to read, they love their technology even more. We’ve tried to curb their access to tech as much as possible and get them outdoors, or at least keep them thinking. I’ve got this really cute idea that will hopefully make reading more fun and interesting for them.
It’s sort of a reading calendar/prize set up for them, and it’s super easy to make!
Here’s what you’ll need:
A large piece of cardboard, or foam board. We used the trifold boards from Walmart.
Envelopes. 1 each for each book you want them to read.
Prizes. These can be small items from the $1 bin at Walmart, or larger items kept in a “treasure chest”
List of types of books you want them to read.
How you make it:
1. If you have a brand new trifold board, you can skip this step if you want. We recycled one from previous school projects. Use some 3M spray to cover your board in a fabric or wrapping paper of your choice.
2. Write a type of book on each envelope… i.e. Biography about a famous Woman in History, or Fairy Tale, or Historical Fiction. Try to pick genres that your child(ren) would be interested in, but also something that might be out of the norm for them. The goal is to get them reading, but also to expose them to things they may not think about reading on their own!
3. If you have smaller items that fit in the envelope, place them in and seal the envelope, and then attach the envelope to the board with tape, glue, or a push pin. If the item is too large to fit in the envelope, you can place a picture of the item, or a note saying they get to pick it out of the “treasure chest”.
4. As the Summer goes on, your child can use the envelopes to “choose their own adventure”. Once they complete a book that fits the genre on the envelope, they can then get the corresponding prize from the envelope!
This idea is simple, adds a bit of surprise to the Summer, and gives them some incentive to not allow their brains to go to “mush” over the next few months. It may also lead to some good book hunting! Check out your local Walmart store, local used book stores, or yard sales with their list of genres, so they know what to look for! Have fun with it! Maybe they’ll find something they would never have chosen before, and learn something new this Summer.
Hope you have a blast with this idea! Let me know what you think about it!!!
