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Jul 11, 2018

Summer Reading Program for Families

A few summers ago I decided to create our own family summer reading program, and it is one of our FAVORITE summer activities. I want to pass that love of reading on to my children, and share with them my passion of summertime reading. Our library has a wonderful summer reading program, but it’s fairly short, and can be (and usually is) completed in four weeks. Now we do both, and love it!

Family Summer Reading Program

Affiliate links are included below. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please find my full disclosure here.

Summer reading program supplies:

  • scrapbook paper or scrapbook paper
  • buckets, jars, etc.

I punched out 2 inch circles in cardstock that say “I’ve read 20 minutes”, and “I’ve read a book!” (see free printable below), then distressed the edges using Distress Ink. To keep track of all the circles they earn, I thought the easiest way was to use one of my favorite things…buckets! I already had them for each of the kids, and they’re super easy to keep out for long periods of time. Ours go on a ledge in the family room, where they are in plain sight, and are easy to add to.

Here’s how our family summer reading program works:

When they’ve completed either 20 minutes or have read one book, they take a circle and place it in their bucket.  If my reading kids finish a book, they can add a circle to their bucket for extra credit, but it has to be a chapter book that’s on their reading level.

Each week I count the circles and award prizes for the totals. I want them to be able to earn something each week, with the prizes getting bigger as the weeks progress. The prize levels are different for each of my kids based on age, in order to even out the playing field.

Prizes can include…

candy, trips to get ice cream, renting a movie, date night with mom or dad, a “staying up late” coupon, or even a special trip to the bookstore to choose a new book.

This can work for any age, and even my little ones can get in on the action. There are so many fabulous board books out there that are perfect for those chubby little hands. Plus, they never get tired of hearing them over and over again. That’s one of my favorite things about this program. Regardless of the ages of your children, from toddlers on up to teenagers and adults–it’s something for the entire family! It’s my goal for us to read even more every day, and making it a part of our regular summertime routine. You can totally adapt this program for the ages of your kids, and prizes that you’d like to incorporate.

Family Summer Reading Program

I’m including the free printable for you to download, if you’d like to use it!  Just save the pdf file to your computer, then print.  I used a 2 inch circle punch (Fiskars) to cut them out.  I made a lot—based on the amount of kids I have, and how many circles I think they’ll use.  If you run out, you can always print more!  ☺

This Summer Reading Program is honestly so fun, and it keeps kids interested and excited in reading throughout the summer. Some of my kids LOVE to read, and others not so much, and this works for all of them.

DOWNLOAD

  • PDF: I READ 20 MINUTES
  •  PDF: I READ A BOOK

If you’re looking for book ideas, I’ve got a couple favorite book lists that I’ve created–one for girls 8-12, and one for boys 8-12. I’m working on a children’s book list and YA list now–hopefully I’ll have them finished before school is out!

  • Favorite Books for Girls
  • Favorite Books for Boys

 Looking for more ways to enjoy your summer and keep it organized? Check out some of my other summertime ideas!

  • How to Make Summer With Your Kids Easier, and More Fun!!!
  • The Ultimate Guide:  Roads Trips With Kids ! 50+ Tips, Tricks & Ideas!
  • How to Do Summer on a Budget: More Fun, Less Money
 

 

Family Summer Reading Program

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Filed Under: Crafts, Family Life, Printables, Summer Fun | 39 Comments

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Lovely comments

  1. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    How wonderful you are! Thank you for posting this list, it's something I think my neice would really enjoy, now I'll have to work out a few prizes… :). Great idea!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    it is so important to read to your children. kids do not have good vocabulary anymore,reading improves that so much! i have always loved reading!!!

    Reply
  3. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    You are my HERO! A literature-loving Mom after my own heart!!! LOVE this!!!

    Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    What a wonderful idea! We used to do the library reading programme too, but it was one book per week, so we would get through it far too quickly. I think your idea to make it last all summer is so brilliant! xxx

    Reply
  5. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    I love your idea and I've always been an avid reader too! We have an awesome library reading program, my Oldest is 13 and in the teen section now, and my Youngest is 6 and reading on his own this summer. He signed up today to read 100 books (him and his Mom :-) and has already read 4 books! Great ideas though!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    I love your idea, Kierste. You sound like me because I was exactly the same except I think we could take 8 books :)

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 8:42 pm

    You are fabulous. Thanks for sharing. I love this. I too love to read, I could do it ALL day!

    Ms. M
    Ms.M's Blog
    A Teacher's Plan

    Reply
  8. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    I love summer reading too! I recently designed a tote bag especially for library books and I've been thrilled at how many moms have made them as end-of-the-school-year gifts for their kids in preparation for lots of library visits this summer. I have awesome memories of working my way through the entire Agatha Christie shelf one summer. . .

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    Jun 2, 2011 at 9:43 pm

    I loved many of those books myself!! Especially trixie beldon.

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 1:02 am

    What a great idea Kierste! I love it!!! We may have to copy.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 1:37 am

    I love this–wish I had children at home.

    I need to spend more time reading.

    Reply
  12. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 2:13 am

    Love these tags!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 3:03 am

    What a great idea. I actually just blogged about taking my kids to the library today to sign up for our summer reading program.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 3:07 am

    What a fun idea that I'm soooo gonna do! I have been needing some ideas on how to keep my son reading when he doesn't have to report to his teacher! Thanks for the downloads too! :)

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 3:38 am

    I fondly remember my summer biycle trips to the library. Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew – woo-woo! Reading was (and is) such a great escape. Now that I'm a grown up, I wasn't taking the time to read, so I started a book club! We now have 12 active members, and have read a great many myriad of books, some of which I would've never read on my own.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 4:59 am

    Your idea is wonderful!! I love your book lists. Thank you!

    Reply
  17. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 11:56 am

    I am an avid reader, as are my 3 big kids. I hope to instill that love in our 2 littlest. Great idea!
    By the way..I LOVED Cherry Ames books when I was in 3rd grade..wow…memories!

    Reply
  18. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 3 post on Jun. 03, 2011. Thanks again.

    Reply
  19. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    What wonderful lists! I remember so many of them from my youth as well: Trixie Belden, etc. When I go skating outside I always tell my dh I feel like Hans Brinker and he just looks at me with a blank stare. It is nice someone else appreciates these classics! I've started keeping track of what I'm reading this year on my blog if you run out of material! lol As an added bonus, as I finish each book that is not a library book this summer, I'm donating it to the local library so others can enjoy it. Summer is indeed reading time! lol
    Hugs,
    Kerry

    Reply
  20. Anonymous says

    Jun 3, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    I absolutely love this idea! I have been posting recently about summer reading, so I featured you for my Favorite Friday post. You can read the post at: http://nestcandy.blogspot.com/2011/06/favorite-friday-summer-reading-edition.html

    I linked back to you several times and credited you the picture. Thanks again for the great post!

    Reply
  21. Anonymous says

    Jun 4, 2011 at 1:12 am

    J is just finishing The Magic Treehouse series. He's really enjoyed them. They weren't around when we were kids. I'm not sure what age they would be-Probably the first list. Each book is 60-75 pages and has illustrations too. I'm grateful for these little books because they pushed him into "longer" books. He told me he read The Magic Finger today too. And now to Beaverly Cleary's Runaway Ralph. I'm so excited for summer reading!

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    Jun 4, 2011 at 5:17 pm

    Love this Idea. Thanks. Thanks. Do you have a list of quick fun reads for us mothers with little time on our hands and a real love for reading? Just really want a handful for good books for myself this summer! Thanks again for the idea! Love it!

    Reply
  23. Anonymous says

    Jun 5, 2011 at 2:47 am

    I love that you are encouraging your kiddos to read so much! This is a twice-daily activity at our house, and as a teacher and book lover, I think it's SO important!

    Reply
  24. Anonymous says

    Jun 6, 2011 at 1:36 am

    What fonts did you use?

    Thanks.

    Reply
  25. Anonymous says

    Jun 6, 2011 at 5:56 pm

    Shalet–

    I do have some great book ideas for moms–I'll post those soon.

    The fonts are century gothic and rebekah's birthday.

    -kierste

    Reply
  26. Anonymous says

    Jun 7, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    Omigosh! What an awesome idea! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  27. Anonymous says

    Jun 10, 2011 at 2:44 am

    You have some of the most amazing ideas… I want to do them all. BTW, I mentioned you on my blog (lifemadeinteresting.blogspot.com) and gave you an "award"… check it out.

    Reply
  28. Anonymous says

    Jun 12, 2011 at 3:56 am

    These are adorable and so functional! I don't know how you have the time to do it all! I only have 1 set of twins and would love to be as crafty as you are. You have such great, practical ideas that I love!

    Katie at http://www.Cayenne-Paper.blogspot.com

    Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    Jun 22, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    Thank you so much for this post. I want to let you know that I posted a link to your blog in CBH Digital Scrapbooking Freebies, under the Page 3 post on Jun. 22, 2011. Thanks again.

    Reply
  30. Anonymous says

    Jun 30, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    I too got books from the Tooth Fairy! I love this idea but I think I will revamp it so it's a chart of some sort. My kids are VERY visual. Ok, so I'm visual. LOL.

    Reply
  31. Anonymous says

    Jun 30, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Oh I love this and I would have loved it when I was a kid too!

    I like Amelia Bedilia and many other books on your list. :) Have you read Doreen Cronin's books? "Click Clack Moo" etc? They are so cute for kids! And was it her who also wrote Diary of a Worm? I like that one as well. :)

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    Jul 9, 2011 at 9:51 am

    We live in Beijing and we have gotten together about 10 families who speak English and we have a summer reading club. The club gives prizes for every 8 hours of reading. Then if EVERYONE in the club reads 24 hours we are going to have a joint family fun event. (Probably a picnic or pool day). One Mom got a bunch of prizes off the internet here and the kids are so excited. We meet together once every two weeks to award prizes and give the kids a chance to talk about the books they are reading. This week they are to dress up as their favorite book character. Because English books are sometimes hard to get here, we also swap books. It is a great postive peer pressure way to get my son to read. Everyone is having a great time

    Reply
  33. Anonymous says

    Jul 9, 2011 at 12:14 pm

    I found your site via Ann Voskamp"s blog. I love your reading plan. I know its a little late but, I am going to begin it the first of next week. My son loves to read & I want to help encourage reading for my 4 year old daughter. Thanks for the suggestions!

    Mary

    Reply
  34. Anonymous says

    Jul 9, 2011 at 12:25 pm

    for the blossoming reader, another excellent series is Tomie di Paola's one based on his childhood….26 Fairmount Ave., etc etc.

    A very fun summer read-aloud is Little Tricker the Squirrel Meets Big Double the Bear (but you have to do the voices!)

    Reply
  35. Anonymous says

    Sep 4, 2011 at 3:11 pm

    Oh my goodness, I LOVE THIS! As a first grade teacher I adore moms like you (makes my job easier)! I saw the tokens on pinterest and I am gonna figure out a wau to use them in my classroom. Also, I love the booklists! My own kiddos are getting bigger and we are always searching for new reading. THANKS!

    Reply
  36. Anonymous says

    Sep 27, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    Thanks for the excellent idea. Can you tell me how you made yours? That is, looks like you added some scruff marks to your little circles. They also look kind of thick. Did you paste them onto cardstock? Please help with your wonderful style tips!!

    Reply
  37. Anonymous says

    Oct 5, 2011 at 11:45 pm

    i am a children's librarian, and this is such a cute idea! we are "bucket fillers" at our school =) we look for ways to fill each others buckets, and i need a bucket to have in the library so they can drop their "i've read a book" circles in them. once a month i'll draw several names out and award prizes for filling our library bucket! i'm SO excited! so… where'd you get your cute buckets?? =)

    Reply
  38. Lori says

    May 12, 2014 at 6:34 pm

    CUTE!!!

    Reply
    • Simply Kierste says

      May 13, 2014 at 8:05 pm

      Thank you, Lori!!! So glad you stopped by!!

      Reply

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