In my experience, most boys have different interests than most girls. YES, it's a generalization. Although in this case, it's for a specific purpose -- FOR READING. Boys (and girls) like to read what's interesting to them. They also want good books. And that's why I've made this list of books that generally appeal to a boy's interests. Because sometimes it just takes that right book to get a boy … [Read more...]
What Else Can Kids Read? 7 Reading Ideas Beyond Chapter Books
Think beyond chapter books when asking your kids to read. Chapter books are just one of many reading options. Here are seven more reading ideas to entice your kids into more reading. 7 Reading Ideas Beyond Chapter Books 1. The Newspaper Our daughter saw the headline about McDonald's in the above newspaper Op-Ed section, read the editorial, and had a lot of questions about it. I loved … [Read more...]
How Reading Easy Books Helps Your Child
This weekend, my daughter read three books. In about two hours. No, she's not a speed reader, she just read books that were really, really easy for her. And, I totally endorsed it. In fact, I want you to try it with your kids as well. Reading too easy books is a great strategy to get your kids back into the habit of reading over the summer. But, that's not all. There are specific reasons why … [Read more...]
Smart Book Clubs for Kids
There's nothing better than hanging around with your friends, playing, eating, and . . . talking about a book! Yes, talking about a book. :) Because it's the social, playing, and eating aspect of a book club that makes reading and taking about a book so much fun. Basically, the purpose of a book club for kids is two-fold: to get social time with friends AND to read books. Seriously, … [Read more...]
7 Strategies For a Reluctant Reader
If your child is a reluctant reader and says that books are boring, let's delve a little deeper to find out if books are really boring and then find strategies to help. Reluctant Reader Strategies To find out, ask questions like: "Do you remember any books that weren't boring? "If you could read a not-boring book, what would it be about?" "Does boring mean tricky?" If boring means boring, … [Read more...]
Where to Find the Best Help-My-Child With Reading Ideas and Activities
If you're not yet using Pinterest as the awesome, free resource it is, check it out. It's such a great way to find and save ideas. Take reading for example. In addition to my forthcoming book on reluctant readers, Book Love, Pinterest will give you great reading activities and ideas. (*Click here to learn how you can read Kindle books on lots of other non-Kindle devices.) Since you're … [Read more...]
Raising a Reader (Tips from an Author)
by Helen Perelman, author of the uber-sweet Candy Fairies Series Everyone agrees that reading to your child is beneficial, but here are some tips on how to make your child a book loving reader. Raise a Reader 1) The “B Routine” Long before babies can understand stories, the pictures and your voice stimulate them. Get in the habit of reading before the last bottle and use the “B … [Read more...]
Summer Reading Resources A to Z
Did I ever tell you how I can not make my oldest daughter do anything she doesn't want to? For example, the Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade Halloween parades at school. She flat out refused to wear a costume. Didn't want to. Wasn't going to.Sure, I have forced her to do things: Strap into her car seat. Go to school. (Big things though.)You have to pick your battles. Reading is one of those … [Read more...]
Eraser Stories Motivate Beginning Writers
You know those cute little erasers that are so popular right now? Well, use them to inspire a story idea for beginning writers! All ages will have fun with this writing idea, especially beginning and reluctant writers. (Photos from the Imagination Soup writing workshop today.) Also visit gifts for writers to see more writing motivation ideas. Beginning Writer Story Starter I found packets … [Read more...]
Creating a WebComic for Kids – SMASH
by writer and creator of the SMASH webcomic for kids, Chris A. Bolton. My brother Kyle and I were very young when our oldest brother gave us a paperback collection of early Amazing Spider-Man comics from the classic team of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. We read that book so voraciously, we broke the spine. (For years afterward, loose pages turned up under beds, in toy boxes, and between books on … [Read more...]
From Reluctant Reader to Voracious Reader: What Worked for My Oldest Child
Guest post by Mia Wenjen, aka. Pragmatic Mom, one of my favorite bloggers! From Reluctant Reader to Voracious Reader My oldest child is now starting 6th grade which is Middle School where I live. She's a voracious reader now but it wasn't always so. I guess there are many, many reasons why kids don't like to read and for her, it wasn't the decoding or sitting still; it was the act of … [Read more...]
Guerrilla Tactics for Struggling Readers
Do you have a struggling reader? I did, too. Which is why I've developed some unusual strategies over the years to get my kids to love reading; strategies that fit with their unique personalities. And why I wrote the book, Book Love: Help Your Child Grow From Reluctant Reader to Enthusiastic Reader, coming October 2012. My tactics to encourage a love of reading do not involve punishments or … [Read more...]