The one thing we all can do and it really does not cost any
money at all is read. After all, the family that reads together, grows together.
I heard an author comment on his approach to reading in his
family recently on the podcast “Think Out Loud” (OPB/ NPR). He recommends that
you think of your kids’ reading in the summer like time at the amusement park.
Letting them pick the ride correlates to letting them pick what they read in the
summer. When I think about it, it makes
sense. If they pick the item/topic to read, they will read it. He keeps it
simple by making sure they all read together twice a day. Around breakfast
time—a luxury for him he acknowledges as he starts the day with the family due
to his ‘hallway commute’ of a flight of stairs to his writing office. And they
read together in the evening – all electronics off. Yes, we all have books on
digital devices, but I like his approach. Unplug and use the time to read aloud
to each other, or read around the fire pit or in comfy hammocks or chairs. Your
children will thank you for this delightful and delicious summer time routine
that can be a tradition they practice all lifelong. To ensure there is enough
to read during the evening reading time, his family goes to the library once a
week—sometimes more.
There are a lot of fun ways to make your summer enjoyable and thriving. Intentional, easy, fun activities to add to the daily reading ritual will make for a summer that sparkles with interest instead of frustration. With this basic EASY, Low or NO Cost plan in place, your week
will go by fast as you share with family and friends wonderful slow connecting
activities like taking walk, playing a board game and perhaps a game of tag or
corn hole.
What would it be like if you and your family friends went to
the library together? We have long been advocates of the local library here at
Fine-Tuned Families (listen to our Wise Parent Wise Kids conversation with our
local librarian here:
Share with us over on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/finetunedfamilies/ how
you and your family are choosing to thrive this summer by sharing reading time
together. What is the book or topic that is hot for your young readers? We are
wondering what we should read next… let us know how your summer amusement of
reading and connecting plays out!
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