SummerReadingPrograms forKids AVOID THE SUMMER SLIDE Having the kids home from school can be awesome, but how do you keep them busy and mentally engaged? You might find yourself eyeing expensive summer camps or wondering about private tutors. But that’s not necessary. Instead, check out some of these great summer reading rewards programs. All these programs are free, they’ll get your kids reading, and they’ll give you some time to yourself to boot!
The local library is the best place to start. Most city libraries have great summer reading programs that will reward kids for their hard work with prizes, awards, and even free books. Libraries are also great places to get suggestions for kids, and they offer fun activities during the day and night that will foster a love of learning and reading — and lead to more ideas on what to read! But libraries aren’t the only places that reward summer reading. National businesses also get in on the fun. Barnes & Noble will give a free book to any child who completes their summer reading triathlon journal ( barnesandnoble. com/summerreading ). Chuck E. Cheese will give any child 10 free tokens if they read every day and record their progress on their reading calendar (chuckecheese. com). Pizza Hut will also reward young readers for filling out a passport (bookitprogram.com), and there are other companies that offer incentives.
Remember, reading is about more than just learning. It’s also about keeping minds active to fight the “summer slide” that educators dread every new school year. If you want your kids to have fun, stay sharp, and win cool prizes, get them involved in summer reading!
What toDoWithAllThisSunlight?
Catch Some Waves The summer solstice also happens to fall right after
International Surfing Day, so why not enjoy the extra hours of sun by road tripping out to the beach to catch some waves? The official International Surfing Day website, surfrider.org/isd, has lots of information and lists great ways to celebrate. You might even be surprised to find awesome events near you! Shakespeare in the Park The week surrounding the summer solstice is often referred to as midsummer. William Shakespeare's beloved comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” takes its name from this, so what better way to mark the occasion than with some of the Bard’s classic works? Theater groups all across the country put on outdoor performances, and it’s a wonderful chance for the community to come out and enjoy some of literature’s greatest stories. There are numerous celebrations surrounding the summer solstice. So why waste a sunny day? Get out there and have some fun!
We call the summer solstice the “longest day of the year,” and though there aren’t really more hours in the day, extended hours of sunlight do make June 21 feel longer. So, why not do something with that extra light? We can’t all make a pilgrimage to Stonehenge to watch the sunrise, but there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the summer solstice wherever you live. Try Outdoor Yoga Yoga is a popular activity for exercise and stress relief, practiced by millions across the world. The International Day of Yoga is held on June 21 each year. Expert and beginner yoga enthusiasts alike celebrate by taking their yoga mats outside. Find ways to get involved by visiting idayofyoga.org.
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