(and other fun reading challenges)

As an avid reader, I am often found with a book. I have always been this way. You could have found me in the library at school as it was a safe place, filled with many paperback friends. I used to love the read-a-thons we had, and I dominated any goal I set for myself. So, it is my heart that my girls would love to read. I know I cannot force them to love it, but I can model it, demonstrate the wonder of reading, and make sure they have access to a wide variety of books and other reading material.

Here is something we did recently in my desire to provide opportunities for the girls to read and for them to work towards a goal. I have mentioned several times that we are doing the 1000 hours outside challenge, and it got me thinking about using a similar model to encourage reading. 

We set “1000 minutes of reading” with the price of a new set of rollerblades upon completing the challenge. It might sound overwhelming, but when you break it down, it looks something like: 30 mins a day for 34 days. That is not too bad. If you read 5 days a week you can reach your goal in just under 7 weeks. And they did it! The prize was definitely a boon and helped the attitudes. There was also the twin competition. That can sometimes be a good thing 😉 

What are their reviews of this challenge?

S: I didn’t really like that I had to read every day but it was ok. I liked the prize. It helped my reading to get better by the amount of my little toe. I don’t want Mummy to do this again. (She’s my reluctant reader at the moment.)

K: I liked it and it was fun. It was worth it because we got our rollerblades and my reading did get better and I found some new books that I really like. 

I honestly do recommend this one as a great way to get into the routine of reading. While I didn’t push for 30 minutes a day, this is often what they settled into (2x15min sessions a day). And then we were able to keep going with that routine. What also helps this is that I pay a dollar for every chapter book they read. 

OTHER READING CHALLENGES

What are some other challenges we can set our children to encourage reading? Here are 9 suggestions.

1. Read-a-Thon:

This is where you set a reading goal for a specific period, such as a week or a month. Challenge your kids to read as many books or pages as possible within that time frame.

2. Genre Challenge:

Encourage your kids to explore different genres by challenging them to read books from various categories. Create a checklist or a game where they can mark off each genre they read, such as mystery, fantasy, historical fiction, non-fiction, etc. This is great for older children.

3. Book Series Challenge:

Challenge your kids to read a specific book series or complete a set number of books within a series. This can motivate them to keep reading, as they’ll be eager to find out what happens next. Some great series are the Harry Potter Books, Percy Jackson, Dog Man, etc. 

4. Reading Bingo:

Create a reading bingo card with different reading prompts or challenges, such as “Read a book with a blue cover” or “Read a book that takes place in a different country.” Your kids can check off the squares as they complete each challenge to get 5 in a row.

5. Reading Passport:

Create a reading passport that mimics a real passport. Assign a specific country or location to a list of books, and encourage kids to read books set in those places. They can “travel” from one country to another as they read the corresponding books.

6. Buddy Reading Challenge:

Pair your kids with a reading buddy, such as a sibling, friend, or family member. Challenge them to read the same book or series and then discuss their thoughts and opinions together.

7. Read and Watch Challenge:

Challenge kids to read a book and then watch the movie or television adaptation of that book. Encourage them to compare and contrast the two formats, discussing similarities and differences. (I have done this with my girls and they love it.)

8. Diversity Challenge:

Encourage kids to read books by authors from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. This challenge promotes inclusivity and helps broaden their understanding of the world. This is another great one for older kids, but you can start it with any age. There are many great picture books that are teach diversity beautifully. 

9. Alphabet Reading Challenge:

Challenge you kids to read a book that starts with each letter of the alphabet. They can create a list to keep track of their progress, aiming to complete the entire alphabet. Some letters might be harder than some. 

Remember to tailor the reading challenges based on the child’s age, interests, and reading level. Offer incentives, rewards, or milestones along the way to keep them motivated and excited about their reading progress. 

Xheck out some other reading videos like this one