With so much information and entertainment available electronically, many kids are slow to pick up books. Parents can encourage reading by sitting down with books themselves, reading with their children and exposing them to reading incentive programs. Books suddenly look more appealing when youngsters have the chance to enter a competition and win prizes or recognition.
Rewards at Home
Make your own reading incentive program at home. Create a chart with 10 or 20 spaces and have your child record each book she reads. Offer a reward at the end of each book, such as a pizza party or an overnight visit with friends. To stimulate your child's interest, go to the library with her, recommends West University Elementary School in Houston. Help her choose books that interest her and are on her reading level.
If your child prefers reading aloud or listening to a book, make that the foundation of your reading incentive program. Read Aloud Virginia suggests setting aside a time to read with your child and sitting close together. If you're reading to your child, engage her by using dramatic tones and expressive voices for different characters. Talk about each book when you're done reading.
School Programs
Encourage your child to participate in school incentive programs, and get involved yourself. Some schools such as South Carolina's Northside Elementary create elaborate reading programs, according to Education World, a website for teachers. To initiate Northside's program, the school sends home pledges for children and parents to sign. To participate, the kids must read or get someone to read to them, and their names are entered in a drawing. Winners get a visit from the Reading Prize Patrol, a family certificate, a bouquet of balloons and a restaurant gift certificate.
Parents also can participate in classroom reading programs. Younger kids especially take pride in mom's or dad's involvement, which becomes a form of incentive. Education World describes a program in which parents sign up to be mystery readers. The teacher knows who's coming, but the children don't know the reader's identity until the parent shows up in class and reads a book aloud.
Library Programs
Introduce your children to summer incentive programs at the public library---they're a good way to keep kids reading while school's out. Most summer programs have a theme, with entertaining activities to accompany the reading and the prizes. If water is the theme at New Hampshire's Durham Public Library, activities include ocean crafts, story times featuring books about boats and visits by surfers and marine biologists.
Online and Community Programs
Sign up for a free reading incentive program. These programs not only offer rewards for reading, but they also help your child select books at his level and according to his interests. Also, keep your eyes open for reading programs in the community. They're often available at fast-food restaurants, with hamburger and pizza chains offering incentives for reading along with their usual kids' menus.
