When I was a child, I wanted to join the local public library. Many of my friends were library members, and I, too, wanted to take a weekly trip to such an interesting place. It took a bit of time to convince my parents that I was responsible enough to hold a library card.

My interest in books has flourished over the years, and I often choose a trip to the bookstore over many other forms of fun family activities.

I don't believe that my experience is unique. Children get excited about books and about reading. Recently, I was at an open-air market where a young girl lingered over the books arranged on a table. Unfortunately, her parents were less than enthusiastic over her interest in books and quickly moved her along from browsing.

Several stalls later, she was being moved along again ... from yet another book vendor. How many of us have opted for a high profile toy rather than giving an unadvertised book as a gift? In fact, books are rarely advertised. They don't have to be. Once children develop a love for reading, they'll make up their own minds about what sells.

What activities for preschoolers and older children can parents do to increase the likelihood that their children will make reading an important part of their summer activities? On her Web site, Mary Leonhardt, a high school English teacher and author of "Keeping Kids Reading" and "Parents Who Love Reading, Kids Who Don't" offers these family ideas:

  • Have lots of reading material, but no television, around where your children eat their snacks.
  • Buy lots of magazines and paperbacks that you think your children will enjoy and spread them around the house. If they manage to resist their allure, temporarily disable the television.
  • Say, "Oh no! The television is broken and I can't afford to get it fixed this month."
  • Keep a supply of comic books, magazines and short paperbacks in a bag for pool, beach, sports and long car trips.
  • Plan a vacation where there are no televisions; brings lots of reading material. Why? Many children won't consider reading as a source of entertainment unless there is nothing else to do.

Students have said that they started reading when traveling or when they were at a remote camp or vacation house. By the time they were able to watch television again, many found themselves bored by it and continued reading.

Don't pressure your children to do the reading on their school reading list. Why? Children who worry about doing their required reading often don't do it, nor any other reading either. With a book hanging over their heads, they stop reading altogether.

Tell them they don't have to read the required book, but they have to read something. Bottom line: Not doing required summer reading won't have that much effect on their grade, but not reading at all will affect their reading competence and their image of themselves as readers.

Parents may wonder if there are specific books that should be included on their child's summer reading list. Children benefit from having the opportunity to read classic children's literature as well as selections from contemporary authors.

Many local libraries have summer reading clubs for children giving them the opportunity to sample bestsellers, such as the "Harry Potter" series, or classics such as "Little Women."

Exposure to books also benefits children beyond reading skills. Books encourage social and emotional development as children read about how characters deal with difficult situations. Memory skills are enhanced as children recall plot details and imagination is fostered as children create pictures in their minds when reading chapter books.

When children read, the world becomes a big place. Reading gives us the chance to read about people like us and about people very different from ourselves. Reading lets us see what other places are like and gives us an appreciation of places we know well.

For children who include reading in their summer activities, vacation destinations are everywhere at anytime. Once we become readers, the size of the world depends on our imagination and on our eagerness to learn.



Dr. Laurie McNelles is an Education Specialist for Kumon Math & Reading Centers.