The Summer
Reading Club starts today! Libraries across Canada are asking readers to
IMAGINE this summer with the TD Summer Reading Club. Why Summer Reading? Ask
any teacher – kids who read during the summer tend to retain the skills they
learned in the school year. This is especially important for those who have
just learned to read, or who are struggling with reading. The library makes
reading fun – and rewarding—with our Summer Reading Club. As your child reads
toward his or her goal of 10 or 20 hours, they can get small incentives such as
stickers, tattoos, and pencils. When they finish, they can earn a FREE FastPass
to Upper Clements Parks! Full details here.
Teens can
get in on the fun, too, and enter to win cool prizes. And this year, we are
inviting adults to play along. Pick up a list of "50 Things To Do This
Summer", do at least 40 0f them with your kids, return the booklet to us
and you can enter to win some great prizes, too!
Here are
some Summer Reading tips for parents—help your young readers have an enjoyable
time with books this summer. If it does not seem like work, they are more
likely to find that book that hooks them and makes them readers for life!
Check out a Little Reader Bag for
your child who is just beginning to read. These bags have 5-8 books in them that are
specifically designed for your young readers. Just like anything, to be a good
reader, you need practise. And keeping
up with reading during the summer months will help your child retain the
skills they learned during the school year. We have 4 levels of Little Reader
bags, so stop by your library and see which ones are just right for your little
reader. We have them in French, as well,
for those students who are learning to read in French!
Listen to a book! If you have a long car trip ahead,
find a great book to listen to. You can download one onto your MP3 player, or
borrow one on CD from the library.
Listening to books counts as time for your Summer Reading Club booklets,
too! We have some suggested books here.
Give your children
writing materials. Children want to learn how to write and to practice writing.
Help them learn by having paper, pencils, pens, or crayons for them in your
home. Help your young children write if they ask you. Give your school-age
child a journal to keep during the summer – they can write, draw, add momentos
and pictures, and keep a Summer Scrapbook!
Restrict the amount and kind of TV your children watch. During the
summer it is tempting to sit in front of the TV for extended periods of time.
Turn it off and go for a walk, play outside, or read a book under a tree
instead. If you do allow TV, watch educational TV programs with your children
that teach letter sounds and words or give information about nature and
science.
Don't forget
about bedtime reading sessions! Routine is important for children,
and you can include reading in the nightly ritual. If your child is older,
choose a great read-aloud and share a chapter each night. Make it a family
event with a bedtime snack.
Follow your
child's interests. We have books about knights, cars, bugs, dinosaurs, stars,
horses, trains, and much, much, more. Ask the library staff to help you find
books in the non-fiction area!
Visit a park
and take a StoryWalk! You can read and be active at the same time at the parks in
Port Williams or Bridgetown – come check it out! Or, make your own story walk
by reading aloud as you stroll through the park.
Let them
read for fun! Summer is the time to enjoy books without tests or reports.
If they only want to read comic books, let them! The library has a huge
selection of graphic novels for young readers (adults, too!) Here's a list for
younger readers. Or
maybe they love humour. We have a list for that, too, right here. Or
maybe they just want to read about horses. Check
out our New Books and Staff Picks for even more suggestions, or ask the staff
at your local library. Have a great summer, and may you find that perfect
summer book!
--Angela
J. Reynolds, Head of Youth Services
