Lizz Welter

Lizz Welter

Lizz Welter is mother to two beautiful daughters and one handsome son. She has lived in Ohio, Arkansas, and Kansas... but she adores Kansas City and can't imagine raising her family anyplace else. Lizz enjoys exercise, reading, cooking, blogging, and she's a leader in her local MOPS group.

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We Chose Not to Participate in the Summer Reading Programs

by: Lizz Welter

published on: 8/11/2010 6:00:00 AM

I truly can't remember a time when I didn't love reading.  I love everything about reading.  Libraries and book stores are among my favorite places.  My favorite way to spend time with my children is to read with them.   In addition to many wonderful picture books, we've shared a few chapter books this summer.  I know I'll always treasure those used paperbacks that I read aloud from as we took two long road trips. 

Since I love reading so much, especially reading with my children, it may come as a surprise that we don't participate in the library's summer reading program.  You see, my children also love books.  My oldest is starting to read on her own and she's very happy with her new skill.  My other two children will sit and listen to books for as long as I'm willing to read to them.  After careful consideration, I decided we had very little to gain from a summer reading program.  Sure, we might get a free book or two, but at what other expense? 

One of my children is very competitive.  I know that if we'd participated in the reading program, that child would have become so focused on filling up a book list that the goal of reading would have been to fill the paper, not to simply enjoy the pages of a book.  I'm very thankful that my children enjoy books.  I'm not willing to jeopardize that love for a free paperback.

Now, as a former teacher, I'm all for getting children to read as much as possible.  If a reading program works for your child, go for it!  Even though we don't participate, I'm grateful for the option and thankful for the hardworking library staff!  Perhaps when my children are reading independently, they'll choose to participate in such a program.  I'll happily support them.  Until then, we won't worry about writing down what we read.  Besides, I have other things that I need to get them to love, such as cleaning up their rooms! 

So, did your children participate in the summer reading programs?   Did they find any new good reads?

 

tagged with: Books

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Comments  6

  • Jennifer 13 Aug, 01:41 PM

    We participated but late since we just moved to the area from Denver. We always participated in the programs in Denver. My kiddos are 2 and 4 and the 4yr old is just learning to read on his own. I didnt like that they wanted us to only log books we got from the library. We logged our hours with the books from the library and the ones we read at home as well. My kids get read to every morning and bedtime and love it!

  • Dorothy 13 Aug, 01:42 PM

    My kids did not participate in the summer reading program, this time. I do encourage my kids to read. My oldest is a very good reader but she prefers to read to her younger sister instead of on her own.

  • Michelle 13 Aug, 02:06 PM

    We did participate in the summer reading program for the first time.  My son is just learning to read independently, but would rather have me read to him instead of the other way around.  We read numerous chapter books together this summer, but used the chart to keep track of what he independently read to me.  He's a visual guy and liked writing the titles on the chart.  Plus he got the incentive of a free book when he was finished!

    If you find a way to get children to happily love cleaning up their rooms, please share the secret! :)

  • Amanda 13 Aug, 02:13 PM

    Since my kids don't read on their own yet (they're only 1 and 2) we didn't do the reading program even though books read to them count.  They tend to want to hear the same few books anyway, so they wouldn't have a very long list!  They do enjoy going to story time at the library, and other fun summer activities they have there.

  • Stephanie Cherra 13 Aug, 02:15 PM

    My kids did participate in the program and they liked coloring the things in after each book.  So it encouraged them and I could see how many books we actually read. 

  • Amy 13 Aug, 02:27 PM

    I used the summer reading programs for my daughter to get her used to the library and being around other kids when she was a toddler. Now that she is almost five, we do much better at home. We have a designated time every day that we read and she is good about picking out books and follows the words with her fingers.
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