Five ways to keep your tween reading this summer

It’s the middle of summer (here in the Northern Hemisphere), and kids are out of school. As a middle school teacher, I have to say, this is my favorite time of year. Summer break is great for rebooting, refreshing, and relaxing. Personally, I could sit outside and read all day. However, I know that isn’t what my students are doing.

When we return at the end of summer, it takes weeks to get most students back into learning. Summer sucks that right clear. For many, not all. There’s one sure way to keep your child’s mind in that learning zone while still rebooting and relaxing. Read and write. Immerse them in words.

In the next two posts, I will give a few tips to parents and kids for revving up that lazy summer brain so the shock of school starting is more a jolt than a full on lightning strike.

Today’s post is for parents of children 11-14.

Before your child entered middle school, they might have been an avid reader, enjoyed regular library visits, didn’t mind writing that English essay now and again. Unfortunately, once adolescence is in full swing, even an enjoyable read by the pool can be a challenge.

Hormones can wreak havoc on a once quiet child. That’s what makes it a perfect time to introduce new genres and new learning tasks. Their minds are a mess, but they’re also hungry.

Here are five ways I keep my adolescent readers engaged and curious about words.

1. Keep up the library visits. Many libraries have teen clubs and special events in the summer. If your child is “too cool” for such things, find a compromise. Drop them off for an hour or so each day, and tell them you’ll see them in an hour. No expectations. Soon, they’ll find a buddy to join them. The point is to make a routine. There are many things to do in the library: read books, peruse magazines, engage with librarians and other teens there, play games, learn a craft, and, yes, there are computers.
2. Reinvent pen pals. One writing task my students never mind is creating postcards to a relative far away or grandparent. I used to match students with pen pals in a senior living facility, but the internet changed that up a bit (privacy and all). They can write emails, letters, or postcards. But you want to encourage them to write in complete sentences and not textspeak. That’s why finding someone older or in another country is a great option. Again, you want to establish routine.
3. Start or join a book club. Book clubs are a great way to force a reading schedule. Many people feel the need to keep up with the other readers. Who wants to show up and be left out of the great discussion about that strange thing that happened in chapter six? You can find organized clubs through your library or local bookstore. It’s also fun to start your own. Talk to other parents, or, if your bookstore will allow, offer to get one going with them. That way, your child can choose the book. (Insert shameless plug.)
4. Create a competition. If all else fails, bribe your kid to read and write. Seriously. This isn’t a bad thing. As long as you are both getting something valuable from it. Create a reading/writing challenge. When your child completes it (or offer benchmarks along the way), reward them. This can be: a trip to a nearby lake with friends; gift certificate to a bookstore; a sleepover adventure in the backyard… Every family is different, and I’m sure you have your own prize ideas. The key is to keep it low or no-cost and focussed on family, learning, or nature.
5. Read together. If you can, create a time when the whole family unplugs and reads. Like in the old days, lol. Nothing beats the silence of sitting together while engaged in different imaginary worlds.

I’ve linked a few places to look for more ideas. Careful not to get lost in the rabbit hole that is Pinterest, but it’s a great place to find unique options for your tween/teen.

Good luck, and please share your adventures with us!!
That's my story, what's yours?

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