Summer Reading Lists for Kindergartners

Whether Kindergarten or First Grade is on the horizon, parents will likely begin to prep their students for the upcoming school year. Starting in the summer, sight word flash cards and secretly-educational coloring sheets will flood dining rooms, cars and book bags. We all want to be prepared! However, balancing all those work sheets, flash cards, and crayons can get a little overwhelming during a time that is supposed to be relaxing, fun, and all about family bonding! The most efficient and effective way to prepare Pre-K to First Grade students is by spending a few minutes a day enjoying one of the best past times: reading books! Check out our advise on encouraging reading and our comprehensive summer reading lists for kindergartners below!

Why You Should “Make” Your Kindergartner Read

Parents are often hesitant to “force” their child to read books. Many feel that this act will ruin books for the child altogether. Although this has happened in the past to many families, getting children to read does not have to be a power-struggle. The way in which you present books and reading to your children will affect their attitude towards books!

First, encourage children to read; do not force them. Just because they do not want to read in that exact moment does not mean they will not read eventually.
Second, do not put books above things that are inherently more engaging or entertaining, such a tablets, TVs, or video games. Making reading for 30 minutes a requirement for getting access to their technology will make them view reading as an obstacle to get to the fun, not fun in itself.
Third, use reading as a means of bonding and enjoyment. Swap out movie nights with Read-Alouds where kids can act out the book that mom or dad is reading. If your kids insist on visuals, try getting them an audio book with a hard copy to use to follow along (don’t forget to grab the copy with pictures!)