Summer Reading

 

Our library has a great summer reading program that the kids participate in, but thankfully, my kids don't need the external motivation to sit down and read. My youngest two love "reading" the pictures and being read aloud to by my oldest. 

A fun way to spice up summer reading is to build an outdoor blanket fort, or you could even set up a tent, and relax in the shade as you read aloud a novel. A basket of snacks and juice boxes makes it even more fun for everyone involved! 

Something I've noticed during these longer read-aloud sessions (sometimes we read a whole short novel in one sitting) is that activities like working with a piece of playdough or drawing in a notebook are things my son can do while still listening to the story. My daughters don't seem to need this same sort of "hands-on" listening. I've also heard of families allowing their children to build Legos, paint, or color while listening. I've found these to be too much of a distraction for my kids, and I don't find that they need it to stay engaged. But perhaps for your wiggly listener, it might be a good strategy!