Fun Reading Activities For Summer {Giveaway}

Thank you to Reading Is Fundamental for sponsoring this post!

We’ve been working hard on the reading skills this summer. Every day, after playing at day camp, I have the boys pick out a few books and sit and read (if they need incentives check out this list of summer reading programs). Jacob reads out loud to himself and Lucas, who isn’t yet reading words, looks at the pictures and tells the story he thinks the words are saying. This quiet time looking at books is so important in making sure that they don’t lose reading skills while school is out for the summer.

Reading Is Fundamental has a whole website with ideas to keep kids reading. Here are 6 activities to get kids working on their reading skills over the summer:

• Have a “book-nic.” Grab a blanket, snacks and books to celebrate a beautiful summer day.
• Use sidewalk chalk to make a mural with your family. Don’t forget to title your masterpiece.
• Play easy work or rhyming games with your child.
• Visit the library and check out books for the entire week – pick one about birds or insects and go on an adventure walk to see if any live in your neighborhood.
• Reading is contagious – let your kids see you reading books, magazines and even cereal boxes!
• Play the alphabet game by finding letters starting from A to Z while in the car or on a walk.

Summer is an important time when students can either get ahead or fall behind academically, depending in large part on their resources and opportunities. All students have the potential to lose some of the learning from the previous school year – this is especially true however, for students from economically disadvantaged communities who don’t have access to books and enrichment experiences. Students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch up – existing research shows that 75% of students who read poorly in 3^rd grade, a benchmark year for literacy skill building, remain poor readers in high school.

The key to helping children maintain or improve their literacy skills over the summer is providing access to quality books they can choose based on personal interests. When children have lots of interesting books readily available to them, they are motivated, empowered and inspired to read. Reading Is Fundamental is really such a great cause.

RIF has many supporters and through July 12th, Macy’s is raising money for this non-profit. Give $3 at any Macy’s register in-store to help provide a book for a child in need. As a thank you, Macy’s customers get $10 off a purchase of $30 or more, PLUS 20% to 15% storewide. 100% of the proceeds go directly to RIF to provide books and learning resources to children who need them most. Customers not only give children the opportunity to build their literacy skills, but also the opportunity to experience the magic and power of books.

I hope you will join me in supporting Reading Is Fundamental. They are offering some great prizes for giveaway with a total of FIVE winners! 4 people will each win a $25 Macy’s gift card and one person will win a $25 Macy’s gift card and a mini-book collection.

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite book (for kids or adults) and then share this post on the social media channel of your choice. Giveaway ends 7/15 at 11:59pm CST. Must be a US resident and 21 or older to enter. Good luck! :)