Stop the Summer Slide: Take Advantage of These Free Summer Reading Programs

Often when kids are off school for summer break, they want nothing more than to splash in the pool and play video games. Sure, relaxation is important after a long school year. However, if they don't crack a book all summer, they are at risk of the summer slide--losing the information they learned the previous academic year.

One of the best ways to prevent the summer slide is to keep them reading. While some kids naturally love to read, others need a little incentive. See if you can entice your reluctant reader to read several books this summer using one or more of these summer reading programs:

• Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program: Read 8 books, fill out a reading log, and get a free book (from a preselected list). 
• Sylvan's Book Adventure: Students read books from a designated list and then take an online quiz. If they get the quiz right, they win virtual prizes. 
• TD Bank Summer Reading Program: Read 10 books, fill out the reading log, and get $10 to put in the child's Young Saver's account. (This offer is good for new or existing accounts.) 
• Showcase Cinemas Bookworm Wednesday: Read a book a week, fill out a book report form, and see the kids' movie showing every Wednesday morning for free! 
• Junie B. Jones Reading Club: Sign up for the reading club and get a free starter kit, including a copy of Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus. 
• Scholastic Sumer Challenge: Kids sign up and keep a reading log. Their minutes count toward the Read for the World Record challenge. They also win virtual prizes. 
• Half Price Books Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program: Read 15 minutes a day in June and July and earn Bookworm Bucks to spend at Half Price Books. 
• Don't forget to also check your local library. Our local library has a reading challenge, and the top 25 readers get a special prize. Last year my son was one of the top 25 and was treated to a pizza and bowling party. 

Help prevent the summer slide and keep your kids interested in reading with some of these great programs!

Melissa, a mom to three little ones (ages 7, 3 and 1) blogs at Mom's Plans where she writes about living a fulfilling life on less and focuses on cutting expenses, budgeting, paying down debt, saving money and once a month cooking.