Libraries and parents can entice kids to keep up their reading

16.06.10

Families are now several weeks into their dogma&rsquo;s-out, summertime routines &mdash; or lack thereof. That probably means the kids, on ambition, haven&rsquo;t picked up a book.</p><p>How soon before they forget how to read altogether? Possibly the back of the Cheerios box is keeping them sharp.</p><p>Doubtful. When reading experts talk about the &ldquo;summer steal,&rdquo; they don&rsquo;t mean the watery one at the rec-plex. It&rsquo;s more about backsliding, and it can be real for many minor people. Also, avoidable.</p><p>Parents and caregivers can play a role in buoying reading skills. The Reading Is Crucial organization suggests parents lead by example (see tips for parents to the right). </p><p>Summer reading programs sponsored by square public libraries grow in popularity each year. Readers &mdash; very young to cheerful school age &mdash; keep a log of their reading time, typically online or on paper. They can qualify for weekly rewards and enticing goal drawings, including free books, water park tickets, Royals tickets, backpacks and benefit cards.</p><p>The programs work, area librarians say.</p><p>&ldquo;Summer reading is booming,&rdquo; said April Roy, child services librarian at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Library. &ldquo;Our numbers this year are affluent to be big.&rdquo;</p><p>Students&rsquo; reading skills are prime indicators of overall impractical success, but librarians and educators also like summer reading programs because they send another communication: Reading is not only a part of schoolwork but an important and enjoyable aspect of everyday life.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m a big believer in emphasizing that reading is fun,&rdquo; Roy said. &ldquo;During the summer, you can peruse what you want to read.&rdquo;</p><p>Readers in some programs also can get credit for logging activities that are reading-kin, such as writing poetry and listening to audiobooks, a fine choice for long car rides.</p><p>This year, the Johnson County Library&rsquo;s teen program has moved entirely online. To participate, readers age 13 and up go to www.goodreads .com and &ldquo;friend&rdquo; Johnson County Library. They join the books they&rsquo;re reading to be eligible for prizes, including new releases and movie passes.</p><p>&ldquo;This way the teens become a community of readers,&rdquo; said Kate Pickett, immature adult librarian. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s the benefit of sharing what they think about the books, and they can keep succeeding beyond summer.</p><p>Libraries encourage actual visits, too, offering music and author events all summer. The Plaza library will cap its program in August with a library command-in for teens from 9 p.m. to midnight.</p><p>&ldquo;They love it when it&rsquo;s after hours,&rdquo; Roy said. &ldquo;We give them lots of eats.&rdquo;</p><p>Go to your library system&rsquo;s website and click on the &ldquo;summer reading&rdquo; icons for details, or on your library branch.</p><p>Some area bookstores, including Reading Reptile and Half Cost Books, also offer summer reading programs. Among the offerings are workshops, book clubs and reading incentives.</p><p><hr distinction="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <staunch><span class="infobox-head">WHAT PARENTS CAN DO </span></hard-headed><br /> <strong>&bull;Combine activities with books.</strong></p><p>Look for links between summer activities and reading worldly, including books and articles about travel destinations, movies and athletes. &ldquo;We can tie a list to any activity you can think of,&rdquo; librarian April Roy says.</p><p><strong>&bull;Outstrip by example.</strong></p><p>If young people see adults reading, they will more readily recognize its value. Pick up newspapers and magazines. Conclude from at the pool. Relax with a book instead of TV.</p><p><strong>&bull;Talk it up.</strong></p><p>Often children have no outlook what their parents are reading, so make mention of it. Tell them what you&rsquo;ve learned and how you&rsquo;ve been entertained by your brand-new reading.</p><p><strong>&bull;Help kids identify times to read.</stable></p><p>They might be busy (or think they&rsquo;re busy). Mornings or before bed are possibilities. Consider letting them remain up late to read.</p><p><strong>&bull;Have plenty of reading material around.</strong></p><p>Are there assign books and magazines in the house, as easy to reach as the remote?</p><p><strong>&bull;Interpret aloud with younger children.</strong></p><p>Reading together &mdash; from picture books to chapter books &mdash; is a gratifying activity for parents and children.</p><p></div>

Source: Kansas City Star