During the summer, the familiar refrain of "I'm bored!" might waft through the house every so often, especially when it's too hot or rainy to go outside. But aside from catering to your child's every whim and becoming his or her entertainer, what can you do to help them keep their sanity - and preserve your own, too? Try getting them to read more. Older kids may have the responsibility to do summer reading as a part of the school curriculum, and the sooner they start, the better. Spacing out the reading assignments will keep them from approaching reading assignments with anxiety and gives them the time they need to figure out word meanings and to digest the story. Ideally, you should introduce books to your child when she's a baby. Babies who are old enough to play with toys will learn to open and close books, look at the pictures and begin to recognize letters.
Plus, board books are tasty for teething infants! As children grow, continue reading to them and make books accessible by keeping them in various areas - not only bookshelves, but also toy boxes, on the child's dresser, in the playroom, etc. Children are more likely to read when they have easy access to books. Cultivate your child's interest in books by tailoring book choices to the child's passions. If your son enjoys trucks and dinosaurs, then try to check out or purchase those types of books. If your daughter loves dolphins or princesses, then those are fine story subjects. Reading should never be interpreted as work, punishment or drudgery, and when you lead by example - picking up a book and reading in front of your child - then he's more likely to enjoy and love reading throughout his lifetime.