Making the summer reading challenge harder?

[RoboJesus]

This will be the 3rd year my child will do the summer reading challenge. First year was fine, but last year it really wasn't a challenge at all. I think this year I'm going to try making them ready more and harder books. Does anyone else do anything similar?

I wish adults could do this too. I loved doing this challenge as a kid, I still have my awards 😂

You should set up a challenge on MN - book from each continent or from different eras etc. I think there was something like this on the reading section before.

Tbh I find it odd that you need to bribe your child to read over the summer. I’m just trying to be strict when he is using reading to delay bedtime atm

Told me last week that I was ruined his academic potential but not letting him continue. He’s six and was reading a book on the periodic table.

Sneaky stealth boast there about getting a two year old to read six books fluently

You seem to be missing the point of reading for pleasure completely.

Make your own challenge.

You don't seem to appreciate any of the great options you've been given!

Is it possible that getting your child to slog through the summer with six books now burnt them out?

I don’t understand the stickers and rewards bit given you say you have a super reader. At that age I would have wanted Mum to take her stickers and leave so I could get back to books. Harry Potter, the hobbit, the chronicles of narnia, the secret garden, the famous five, the secret Sven, the magic wishing chair and the folk of the faraway tree, grimms fairy tales are all good advanced reading for that age .

My child is in year 4 and I think this is the 4th year of the reading challenge that she has participated in and she commented on the whole thing being boring now as it’s the same thing every year. I think this will be the last one she does. She quite likes reading anyway and the stickers and bracelets seem a bit young for her now she’s nearly 10. We will do it this year but doubt we will do it again. A different challenge for the older ones would be good. More books to read or 6 different types to read or something.

I assume the OPs child is five if my maths is correct.

I don't think some of you understand what the summer reading challenge is... And have an irrational hatrid of stickers

@AuroraFloyd you have a problem with the facts...?

I’m well aware of the summer reading challenge. It is there to alleviate the summer slide and to make sure that kids are not returning after the summer holidays three months behind in reading skills than when they left the year before.

secret Sven in the original Swedish timeisnotaline?

If you want 6 books that are a challenge, pick 6 books which are challenging, I don't know if that's Ulysses or See Spot Run, but it doesn't matter, just pick appropriate books.

I am quite surprised by your assertion that youd kid still loves rewards for things which are not a challenge to them, I guess it depends a lot on your nature though.

I don't think you or we are the target audience. But what we do is only count one book per visit (or two, depending on how many weeks we're around to visit the library). Doing it as a race spoils the fun of gradually solving the mystery. The process of getting them to choose which were their favourite books and talk about why they chose those particular ones and talk to someone outside the family about what they've been reading is still an educational one.
They don't want to read Spot the Dog. If your child would rather read Spot the Dog perhaps you should let them. As other posters have said there's also the online aspects if you want to clock up more points. My kids are generally more interested in reading books than entering them into websites so haven't really gone for that yet.

The Summer Reading Challenge is just a national scheme linked with libraries where children can be rewarded with stickers and a certificate for reading six books. I think most people on this thread know that. It's a bit of fun. It's not compulsary, you don't have to put it on your CV or anything. It's just a bit of fun. If your child enjoys reading then they will read. If they don't enjoy reading (but can read so no educational difficulties) then does it matter if they read 6 books or not. Reading for pleasure is just that - for pleasure. Oh and adults might not be able to sign up for the scheme but it's not complicated to challenge yourself to read six books.
My summer challenge to myself this year is to read the four books that have been sat on my bookshelf for ages, I also want to finish my doll house restoration and finished a blog article I started ages ago. Should I get stickers for that?
You seem to be taking the scheme a bit to seriously.

sirfred It took me ages to pick up on my typo, I was trying to work out if you were having a go at me for some reason 😆
As an avid reader family, parenting for my parents was all about if you’re good you can read, you can only borrow 4 books from the library at a time and of course crap no you can’t read that its for adults.

@Pibplob there is a challenge for older children called ImagiNation which runs alongside the SRC in libraries. Once children turn 13 they can also take part in Reading Hack which includes volunteering in libraries supporting younger children taking part in SRC.

Haven't read the whole thread so maybe someone already mentioned.

If you register online, you can carry on reading books after 6 books and keep getting virtual prize every 20 book, 40 books 100 books etc. You can write a review/recommendation for other children etc.

I would love a MN Summer Reading Challenge

www.bookbub.com/blog/2018/01/19/best-2018-reading-challenges-for-adults

Here you go oleanna - you could pick one of these and set it up on the reading forum :)

Also you can carry on past summer, you can keep adding books you read, and get the virtual prize. I think there is winter challenge too.

Perhaps, given that your DC is already a very successful and avid reader, you could follow the typical library challenge and allow them to choose books freely, read as many or as few as they wish. They will complete it no problem with little challenge regardless and you want to foster their love of reading.

BUT you could run alongside a homemade summer challenge with your own certificate and medal to support things your DC may find more challenging. Speed timed getting changed, trying new foods, maybe conquering a fear of heights or similar, riding a bike, etc.

Just an idea!