7 Activities to Get Your Child Hooked on Reading this Summer

A summer off from school doesn't have to mean a summer off from reading.  Children who read away from school perform better academically than those who don't. Here are 7 ways to keep your child engaged in reading outside of the classroom.

1. Build reading around your child's interests. Start with a movie. If they loved the movie version of the Adventures of Narnia introduce them to the series of books. Many classics like Narnia are available in paperback and even picture and abbreviated versions for younger children.

2. Join a summer reading club at the library or start a parent-run book club. Many schools and libraries offer summer reading programs with prizes, parties and awards. Or create your own reading club with a group of neighbors with a chart, stickers, and prizes.

3. Plan for your family vacation. Have your children research where your family is going and choose sites they would like to visit. Give them access to brochures, guidebooks, an almanac, and the internet.

4. Start a collection. Help your children become experts on something this summer by starting a collection. Encourage them to visit web sites, view videos, and look for library books to learn more about their new interest.

5. Use comic books to stimulate visual learners. No matter what your mother said, comic books are actually good reading material for visual and artistic learners, as they allow readers to make easy connections between picture sequences and written text.

6. Read aloud. Read parts of newspapers, magazines, and instructional manuals aloud and encourage your child to do the same. Have discussions about what you read to promote interest.

7. Be a role model. Let your children see you read. Always carry a book, magazine, or newspaper with you. Read anywhere, the airport, bus stop, doctor's office, swimming pool, etc. If they see you reading for enjoyment, your children will want to read too.