Summer reading for kids

ADAM GELMON

A question that seems to come up from parents every year about this time is, "How do I keep my child's brain active over the summer holidays?" The worry, in part, is that the summer months will shake out all of the knowledge built up over the previous 10 months of school. One of the best ways to make the most of the break from school, while keeping the brain fed, is to encourage your kids to explore and develop through summer reading.

Kids who read for pleasure do, in fact, perform better in school. I see it in my own students on a daily basis. My students' reading habits are reflected in their writing and in the manner in which they express themselves and interact with the world around them. Our goal, then, should be to do everything we can to foster a love of reading in our children. But you have to be delicate and not force the issue. Kids who are forced to read "30 minutes a day" often end up resenting reading, and rarely become lifelong readers.

Without a doubt, choice is a very important element when it comes to motivation towards reading. Kids want to be able to choose their own books based on their interests, reading level and mood. This doesn't mean that they don't need help or guidance, but it does mean that they want more control over this aspect of their lives. Parents should ensure that the content of a book is appropriate for their child's age but, after that, try to leave it up to the young readers to decide what they want.

When it comes to choosing a book that is level appropriate, I suggest the tried and tested "five finger rule" – if the first page of a book contains more than five words that your child doesn't know, it might be too challenging for now.

Short stories or books with short chapters seem to better capture the attention of reluctant readers. Short chapters appeal to the goal-oriented parts of us. When we finish a chapter, even if it's three pages long, we get a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.

An increasing trend in literature for children and young adults is the availability of books geared specifically to either boys or girls. Not only do boys and girls have different interests, but also often they have different styles of reading habits.

The Cherub series by Robert Munchamore and the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz have captured the imaginations of many male readers. Meg Cabot and Sarah Dessen have written books that are very popular with teenaged girls. Cabot has written the popular Princess Diaries and Mediato series and Dessen is the author of Someone Like You and That Summer.

Not to say that any book can't be read by anyone who wants. As one of my students recently pointed out, "Maybe if I read a girl book, I'll understand what they're actually thinking." Perhaps this is a bit ambitious, but he might be onto something.

Audio books are easier to get than ever before. You can find them at your local library or download them from a variety of websites, so that your children can listen to them on their MP3 players. To get the most out of audio books, it's best to have your kids listen to them while reading along with a hard copy.

Graphic novels and comic books are also a terrific way to get your kids reading. You can easily find graphic novels across all genres and for all age levels. Some of my students have even discovered a love of Shakespeare by reading graphic novels of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth.

Summer reading is a wonderful way to foster a love of literacy in your child. There is truly something magical about diving into a book and immersing yourself in the text without the worry of bells, schedules and book reports.

Adam Gelmon is a Vancouver freelance writer and a teacher at Vancouver Talmud Torah.

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