The best way to keep your kids learning over the summer is not workbooks and computer programs.
(Crazy, I know.)
It’s spending time playing, exploring, being creative…
…and lots and lots of reading!
Reading on their own, being read to, audio books, books on CD, all of it!
Which means plenty of trips to the local library.
Here’s how I keep library trips with 3 kids organized and manageable:
There are a few simple things that I do in order to make our frequent visits to the library a little more streamlined and fun for everyone.
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1. Each kid has their own tote bag with library card attached.
I got a tote bag and a library card for each of my kids.
Then I hole punched each kid’s library card, and attached it with a ribbon to each tote bag. That way we never forget to bring our cards along when we visit the library.
The kids already had these bags with their names on them, which we repurposed as library bags. The names on the bags have turned out to be super helpful, and there is no confusion about whose bag is whose!
(There are some cute options available on Amazon or Etsy if you’re looking for a new library tote.)
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Cotton & Canvas Co. Animal Tote and… | Buy on Amazon | |
|
KAMO Floral Tote Bag – Waterproof… | Buy on Amazon |
2. When we go to the library, each kid fills their tote, and checks out their own books
Don’t forget that you can check out way more than just books from your library. We always stock up on electronic readers and books on CDs s well.
The kids love checking out their own books. It’s pretty much the highlight of their library trips.
3. Kids unload their books into a special “library books only” cabinet.
This helps to keep library books from getting mixed up with our own books, and makes returns easier.
We also print out a receipt when we’re checking out, and keep it inside the empty tote in between library visits.
That way, when it’s time to return books, the kids each have a personal checklist of books to look for and collect.
Here are some of the different ways our kids “read” over the summer:
1. Reading independently. Only one of our kids can actually read so far, but the other 2 still sit and look at books.
2. Reading aloud. Our independent reader can read out loud to us, or to her siblings.
3. Listening to read alouds. After lunch, and again before bed, we read each kid 1-2 stories (or chapters) out loud. 2-4 books a day really add up! 🙌
4. Audio books. We use Audible, or more often, Libby, a free app from our library, to download and listen to stories. We gave our kids our old phones, but deleted everything except for these two apps, making them the perfect listening devices.
5. Books on CD. We check out tons of CDs. Some are just audio, and some come with books to follow along. We listen in the car, and we also have CD players in each kid’s bedroom for listening during quiet time and bedtime.
For very young kids who struggle with CD players, check your library for Wonderbooks, Playaways, or Me Readers. These are all options that my 2 year old can work independently.
(You can see the listening center that we set up in our playroom HERE.)
Summer reading programs
We love our library’s summer reading program.
We use an app called Beanstack to keep track of how many books we’ve read, and the kids can win prizes and earn rewards.
It’s definitely worth checking to see if your library participates.
How do you encourage your kids to read? Let me know in the comments!
And be sure to pin this article or share it on Facebook if you found it helpful. 🙂
Happy reading!
-Laura
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