Avoid the summer slide by keeping kids reading this summer. Do your kiddos need some outside motivation to crack open that book? Check out these summer reading programs with incentives to read -- enter one, or all!
Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Journal
The reward: Kids going into grades 1 to 6 can earn a free book from Barnes & Noble (limit one per child).
How it works:
- Read any eight books this summer and record them in Barnes & Noble's Summer Reading Journal. Kids have to write a sentence or so to explain which part of the book is their favorite, and why.
- Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store by Sept.3 to receive a free book.
Download the Barnes & Noble book log.
Chuck E. Cheese Reading Rewards
The reward: Kids can receive 10 free tokens.
How it works:
- Kids need to record that they read every day for two weeks to receive 10 free tokens. A food purchase is required.
Download Chuck E. Cheese's reading log.
New York Times Summer Reading Contest
The reward: Your child's writing could appear in the New York Times.
How it works:
- Every Friday through Aug. 24 the New York Times will publish a post asking the same two questions: What interested you most in the New York Times this week? Why?
- Anyone 13 to 19 years old can post an answer until Friday, Aug. 24. Contestants can choose from any Times article, essay, video, interactive, podcast, or photograph published in 2018, on any topic they like.
- The New York Times will announce winners every Tuesday and publish their writing.
Curious about past winners? Read 2017 winners' work, ranging from refugees and “post-truth politics” to power napping and junk food.
Find the weekly writing prompts here.
Sometimes an incentive -- even a small one! -- is all a kid needs in order to find the motivation to read. We hope these summer reading programs give your child an extra push toward reading this summer!
