Do you remember the first book you read outside of school? I do! It was The Diary of Anne Frank, and I was 12 years old. We were starting to learn about the Holocaust at school, and the bottom corner of the history textbook mentioned a diary rescued after the war from a girl similar in age. I was immediately intrigued to discover how a girl like me felt during this time, but the book wasn’t part of our curriculum. So after school, I asked my mom to please get it for me, and it didn’t take much to convince her. I remember being so excited to start reading it! It took me about three weeks to finish it, and afterward, I felt so proud of myself.
Having started and finished something on my own gave me a sense of pride, and it got me even more interested in the topic we were discussing in class. It made me feel like I shared a secret with the main character, something I was interested in discussing with my peers, and it opened the door to a life-long passion for literature. Reading fed my imagination and encouraged me to create my own stories, so when it came the time to choose a college career, I knew it had to be something related to writing. And here I am👩💻
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”– Dr. Seuss
Reading is an essential gateway to personal development. It allows students to increase their memory function by keeping their minds sharper, it broadens their vocabulary, and helps their communication skills. Reading provides a sense of empathy by helping them understand what others are feeling, and it can even help them relax or sleep better. Reading is a powerful habit, and the sooner we start to cultivate it, the better. But how to encourage your child to read during this summer break?
Do It Together📘📙
Reading can be a social activity! By doing it together, you will model the joy of reading, inspire them to keep going, and you can casually point out things that remind you of the story in your day-to-day life. Whether you have little ones or high schoolers, a family book club is a great way to discuss the story further, get to know more about the author, and hear other perspectives on the same topic.
Turn It Into An Adventure🔎
When visiting a bookstore or library, help build up the excitement by giving them 15 minutes to choose a book to take home. You can also try placing age-appropriate books around the house for them to grab anytime they feel like reading and even create a reading nook. A cozy space dedicated to reading can help spark their interest, especially for the younger ones.
Watch The Movie🍿
By hosting a family movie night to watch the film version of the book they just read, you’ll help take their imagination even further. They will see and hear the story they have imagined as they read, and you can also use it to talk about the message and discuss how they would have made the movie differently.
If you are looking for ideas on which book should your student read next, here are some great options:
The Little Prince
This fantasy novel was first published in 1945 by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and it has been translated into over 250 languages. It tells the story of a young prince from a very small planet (an asteroid, to be precise) who travels the universe, planet-to-planet, seeking wisdom. On his journey, he discovers the unpredictable nature of adults. This beautiful and honest story about friendship and love can spark the interest of readers of any age.
Call Me Floy
It is a fascinating historical fiction story by Joanna Cooke that is ideal for young nature lovers. Cooke fictionalized the real-life tale of Florence “Floy” Hutchings, the first European American child born in what would become Yosemite National Park. In the story, Floy is 12 years old and returns to the valley where she has spent summers blissfully exploring nature. While arriving, she realizes that everything has changed—she is told to act more “ladylike,” and her friend Sally Ann fears that her Indigenous family will no longer be able to call Yosemite home. It is a vivid history of nature and an inspiring portrait of a determined young protagonist.
Courage To Soar: A Body In Motion, A Life In Balance
This is the official autobiography of four-time Olympic gold-winning and record-setting American gymnast Simone Biles. In this book, she shares how her faith, family, passion, and perseverance made her one of the top athletes and gymnasts in the world—and how young people can overcome challenges in their life too.
Addison Cooke And The Treasure Of The Incas
This fiction story by Jonathan W. Stokes is all about Addison Cooke, who convinces his sister and best friends to hop a plane to South America for the adventure of a lifetime. They are on a mission to rescue their aunt and uncle, who have been kidnapped by someone trying to steal ancient Incan treasure. With hilarious characters, fast-paced action scenes, and lots of archaeology references, this is the ideal book for young adventure-seeking students.
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition)
Have you ever given audiobooks a try? This powerful, well-told personal story from the wise, self-reflective perspective of Malala Yousafzai will draw teens and pre-teens in with her accounts of daily life in Pakistan. Hearing the audiobook really makes the story come to life for listeners. But what is even more striking is Malala’s hope, positivity, and belief in what she stands for.
Lifelong learning involves reading, exploring, and gaining knowledge to apply to the real world. No matter your student’s age, reading is a great habit to develop as a lifelong learner, and it could even help shape their future careers as it did with me. If you are interested in schools with exceptional literacy programs or fun extracurriculars for your bookworm child, visit Schola.com to find the ideal educational opportunities for your student!
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