Value of Scheduled Family Reading Time

How can I get my children to read this summer? I want to keep their reading skills sharp. - A Reader
Answer: Living by the old saying "no more pencils, no more books..." this summer could be a prescription for educational disaster next fall for your children. Definitely have fun with your children, but don't let them take a total vacation from academics, especially reading.
Begin by setting up a family reading time when everyone will sit down together for 30 minutes and read silently. This needs to be a daily activity with no excuses allowed for not attending the reading session. Right before or after dinner is usually a good time, since everyone is likely to be home. While your children might not be enthusiastic at first, they will benefit enormously from devoting time to reading every day, and they should eventually look forward to this special family time. In fact, reading together might become a family habit that is continued through the school year.
A very important part of this reading activity is that your children see their parents reading. You certainly don't have to only read a book, nor do your children. Newspapers and magazines are also good choices. You might want to read some of the same materials that your children are reading to encourage discussion later on.
Preschoolers can participate by looking at picture books or using headsets to listen to recorded books. Beginning and struggling readers should have materials that they can easily read without any help. You can even begin a reading session by reading aloud to everyone for a few minutes.
Everyone knows that good reading skills are absolutely essential for success in school. Setting aside a definite time for reading every day ensures that your children will actually read this summer. And the more they read, the better at it they will become, leading to more interest in reading.