Why Start a Reading Challenge
- L. B. Anne
- Mar 29, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 10, 2021
I wasn't supposed to talk about summer reading challenges today, but in light of social distancing due to this global pandemic, I think now is a good time to start a reading challenge. Psst... Come closer. Reading challenges aren't just for kids.

In this time of mandatory isolation, someone needs to check on us huggers. We are not okay. This is me hugging myself every day. Look out world when this thing is over. There will be some mass hugging going on. LOL. I'm going to run up and down the streets hugging people. But seriously, how are you coping? Are you okay?

That brings me to what I'm really here to discuss today. Reading challenges. There's a learning loss that kids can experience over the summer, right? So we get why a reading challenge is important over summer break. But what about now? I mean it just got real. We're in hiding like it's the zombie apocalypse out there. We don't know how long the kids will be out of school and we're homeschooling now. Homeschooling! I wasn't ready. I say every teacher's pay needs to be tripled.

A reading challenge or plan keeps the kiddie's reading skills strong. You don't have to use a plan from your local library. You can do this yourself.
Make it fun for them. Let's see how many books you can read or let's have a contest. Let's see who reads the most books. Your kid will be happy to compete against you. Then they'll do a dance like this--so competitive. Why are they like that? Or is that just me? :)
Keep track of your books in a big way. Use a poster board tacked on the wall. Create incentives for milestones. If your child finds reading difficult or claims he doesn't like reading, decide how many minutes a day he should read. Let the children see you reading. Read while they read. Younger kids love stickers. Use them. I mean on the poster board, like 5 stars per book or something. You guys are funny. How did you think they were going to use them, all over their faces?

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