Just because school is out for the summer doesn't mean our children's noses shouldn't be nestled between the pages of a good book. But if you have a more active child, one who is hard to pin down, you may be searching for other ways to keep him reading this summer. Remember, reading is more than the act of opening a book. Almost every aspect of our lives involves reading. Recognize these as learning opportunities too.
* Open a cookbook. Creating a favorite snack or dessert requires reading. Pick something you know your child likes to eat and have him prepare it with you. Encourage your child to read the recipe out loud as you follow his directions. Or, if she is old enough, allow her to do the cooking while you supervise.
* Order up dinner. Next time you go out, encourage your child to read the menu and order for himself (from the kid's menu of course.) Read the other things around you, billboards, traffic signs, etc.
* Play a game. Go to the game closet and select a favorite. Although all board games require reading skills for reading directions and game cards, some, like Scrabble, actually encourage word skills. What is in your game closet?
* Visit a local museum. Often we take our small, local museums for granted. There is a wealth of information hiding inside those four walls. In addition to reading the plagues and narratives describing the exhibits, your child can learn about the history of the area, and the historical figures who influenced it. If the museum has a gift shop, often you can find books, and other reading materials which may interest your child.
* Write letters. Help your child write to friends and relatives who live in another part of the country. Cousin Sue and Grandma Peggy are sure to write back—more writing—more reading, and the cycle continues.
* Go grocery shopping together. Have your child help you make a list of the supplies you need. Read the sale ads together to find the best deals. Then, off to the market. Let your child help you select the proper foods from the shelves. Have her read the labels. Which product is cheaper (hey why not throw in some math, too!)? What are the ingredients in the ice cream? Does everything have sugar?
* Put together a model. It doesn't matter whether it is a train, airplane, automobile, boat, spacecraft, or dollhouse, getting the pieces placed in the right spot requires reading the directions. Where do you start? What color are the wings?
* Surf the net. Where do you want to go? Use a search engine such as Google (www.google.com) to decide what you want to learn about. Define a search, and then read the descriptions in the results. As you explore the different sites, you will be reading along the way. What is the temperature where Grandma lives? What killed the dinosaurs? What was the score of last night's Rockies game? What is Dante's batting average?
* Interview Grandma, Grandpa and Cousin Ted about the books they like to read. They can also recommend classics they enjoyed as a child. When Mom suggests a book, "it's too boring". But when eight-year-old Samuel tells your child about the same "great book he read", suddenly she's interested.
* Subscribe to children's magazines. Each time one comes in the mail, your youngster will take a break from dashing about to stop and read it if you pick the right one. Just like adults, children enjoy a variety of reading materials. There are many different magazines out there targeted to school-age children.
* Put on a puppet play. Your child can spend an entire day on this project. First make puppets out of old socks or lunch sacks. They can then write the script, and put on a performance for the family in the evening.
These are just a few of the reading activities hidden in our everyday world. Reading is part of life. Make sure it is a part of your child's life too.
Lynn Dean is a Colorado writer and the mother of three children.
