Without a doubt, I read way more in the summer months. I love nothing more than sitting on my deck, feet propped up, with an icy drink beside me and a good book in my hands. Road trips are also the perfect opportunity to get lost in a story, provided the kids don’t start arguing or asking for eleventy thousand things.
Unfortunately, those same kids don’t seem to read as much in the summer months as the do through the school year. I suppose I can’t blame them – summer is time for being carefree, having loads of fun, and not focusing on the ten-months of learning they do through the school year. The flip side to this is that some kids can fall victim to the summer slide.
Makes sense, right? As a parent, it’s up to me to ensure my kids are ready to learn when school starts in September, and not at the same level they were at the beginning of May – yes, sliding back a month or two from where they ended at the end of the year. Because I read, I know that helps create a good influence for my kids – they know that reading is a hobby and something enjoyable. Of course, it’s totally enjoyable to jump on the trampoline, play on their iPads and go to the beach. So, the task for me as a parent is to balance everything through the summer.
This summer, we’ve been on a journey with a new Kindle Paperwhite and a downloadable application called Kindle FreeTime, which truly has become my sidekick in ensuring the kids read this summer. How? It keeps track for me!
Before your child can use Kindle FreeTime on your Kindle, you need to create a Parental Controls password and create a profile for your child. Easy peasy! After I set up each profile, I can then give them Access to Achievements as well as set up our Daily Reading Goal.
By default the Daily Reading Goal is set to 30 minutes, but you can change that based on your child and their age and reading ability. The Kindle FreeTime application doesn’t give your child access to the Kindle Store so only you can add books to their collection – which can be fun too when they see what’s new.
To start our summer, I gave my daughter one of my favorite childhood books. She’s 9 years old and I figured it was time to read all the joy and wonder that “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” by Judy Bloom has to offer. Within her first day reading it she was smirking about the story, and the best part? We talked about it later. For those of you who loved this book as much as I did when you were a pre-teen, you know why that was a special moment.
Next up, Blubber! I didn’t realize how many Judy Bloom books I had read and loved as a kid until I saw them listed in the Kindle Store! As you can see from the photo above, the Kindle Paperwhite is ahhhh-mazing for outdoor reading in the summer. Unlike e-Readers of the past, the Kindle Paperwhite ($119.99 plus free shipping at Amazon.ca!) screen doesn’t dim when outside and doesn’t have any annoying reflection when you’re reading either. It’s really (almost!) like reading a paper-white book. Oh. Hey wait. Clever, those product designers and marketers, aren’t they?
We intend to continue using our Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle FreeTime long after the summer is over. While it’s true that once school starts our kids are reading more in class and focusing on their education, I want my kids to love reading as a hobby like I do – to yearn for the time and space to do so. They’ll just have to come find me with the Kindle first. I’ll be on the deck until October.
I love my kindle paperwhite 3G. My 7 year old has discovered it this summer and it’s cute to see him reading in bed with it.
I loved Judy Blume as a kid. And I like the idea of parental controls, and daily reading goals on the app. Well done, Kindle.
I love that you can promote Summer reading time! Books are an important part of life!
I don’t have a Kindle but do love to read books when I have time.
Sounds like a great device to have to keep all your books on, this sure saves on space thats for sure, I should check one out for myself!
A kindle would make for a great gift. My daughter recently came home for a visit and had a bunch of books with her. This would save so much space and lighten her backpack load.
Our grandchildren love to read so this would be great for them. I like the idea of having Parental Controls password .
Kindle FreeTime seems to me to be a great way of ensuring that children do read, especially during the summer. I wouldn’t have needed this since I have hardly ever been able to put a book down, even as a child I was an avid reader. 🙂
I have a Kindle but sure wish I could utilize the library items on it!
Having an ereader that can be used outside in the sun is so important in the summer!
Reading is so important and its so good to see children read over the summer.
Seriously I have been wanting to get a kindle since they first came out! It is on my wish list and hoping i finally get one this Christmas
I’m an avid reader since childhood, but don’t have an e-reader.
I dont have a kindle but love reading.
I could see that happening, I always loved reading and my daughter too, my son not so much. My daughter reads on her phone and did you know you can get book on your kindle from the library!
I love reading and find myself far away sometimes and away from all my worries.I have always wondered if I would like a kindle.I think it would be great for an avid reader because you can download so many good books.
I think kindles are great and now with this program there even better. It’s a great way to get kids reading and a great way for parents to keep track of it.
I am going to set this up for my regular reader daughters on my Kindle Fire.
I think it’s a great idea to see how much time is spent reading as long as it’s enjoyable.
Love That it doesn’t fun outdoors that is the biggest pet peeve I have of my current tablet. Thanks for the great review!
Judy Blume books were a big part of my childhood. I loved reading them!
This is a great idea for getting the kids to read!
Love anything that encourages reading in kids! Would love to get a Kindle at some point.
It’s super important for kids to start loving to read at an early age..Kindle makes it easy and fun!
Love, love, love this! My kids love to read, and it would be handy to track how much time they spend doing it.
Although I have a Kobo… I have been thinking of switching to the Kindle!
You are correct reading over the holidays is so important for everyone !
I think that anything that encourages kids to read is good!
I don’t have a kindle now. I loved Judy Blume and Nancy Drew as a tween!
I love my Kindle paper white , its awesome for all my books , reading is so important for the kids 🙂
That’s so cool. I love reading. The kindle sounds like it has so many neat features. I have a kobo but wouldn’t say no to kindle.
I dont have a kindle but i would love to get one. Thanks for the post
The screen on this kindle looks great
I love my kindle. This summer when we were at my mom’s house I loaded it up with a bunch of kids books and my 2 kids had to take turns reading and it was great. They were actually fighting on who got to use it next. Both my kids are going to be getting Kindles for Christmas.
I’m planning to upgrade my Kindle and have been eyeing this one!
Love having a kindle too!
This is great! I need to look into this more for my daughter 🙂
I also loved Judy Blume as a child and think its a great way to be able to ease into some conversations with daughters.
I would love to have a kindle. I read a lot and have books all over the house. This would be great to have.
I don’t have a Kindle, but there is no danger of summer reading slide in my house. We love reading.
I read Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret as a tween and bought the book for my daughter when she was younger (bought her the book, as the in pre-kindle days). I’m sure if she has a daughter, the book will be passed on down to her too. Another good read I’d recommend is “My Darling, My Hamburger”. I read it when i was younger, and again it’s a book that was passed down to my daughter.
This is a great way to encourage kids to read more books and the achievement badges are perfect for encouraging young readers.
I love to read but don’t have a Kindle. They sound wonderful!
I had a love of reading instilled in me at a young age – I still love reading as an adult! I think it’s something every parent should try to introduce to their kids
Haven’t gotten into the E-Readers just yet. Old school, but I feel like I’ll be heading that way soon. $119 is a great price.
I wish we had e-books when we were in our youth so, that we could bring the books with us anytime anywhere.
I have my younger two participating in a summer reading program to keep up with their reading.
I don’t have any Kindle but I read on my tablet and paperback still
We don’t have a Kindle yet, using a Tablet for the e-books we buy. I like the parental controls & daily reading goals on the Kindle app, so thinking about buying one for my grandson’s birthday next month.
I love reading books, I don’t have a Kindle but I do love Kindle free time..such a great way to product reading for young children
Are you there God, it’s me Margaret is a classic. I loved that book. Total right of passage that holds up today.
This summer my daughter spent a lot of time reading & I would love for her to have a Kindle! In today’s era of technology I think Kindle really motivates & makes reading cool. Judy Blume books were a huge part of my pre-teen years.. great memories!
Awesome! Would love to add a Kindle to our household 🙂
great for reading without tiring the eyes
I think I need a kindle paperwhite! Great features!
I don’t think i would like reading off an electronic device. I love holding books. Maybe it would change if I tried, who knows
Reading was one of my favorite activities when I was a child. There were no Kindles back then, just weekly walks to the library. An e-reader would have seemed magical back then.
Nice – I do love the convenience of e-readers.
I just got the Kindle paperwhite a month ago.. great for travel and camping!
This is so awesome. Kindles are definitely hand. Love that a parent can set parental control.
I think that hobby reading is so important for kids because it’s much more fun than school reading. The Kindle Paperwhite sounds like it would help encourage techy kids to read more often.
I try to keep reading with my son over the summer. it’s hard though! My mom bought my daughter a kindle and she loves it!!!
I think this is a fantastic idea and will really help encourage children to at least read a bit every day.
I don’t own a kindle but I do love reading. Reading is so important and my children also love to read
I have been wanting one for a long time. Keep hoping I will win one as I read a lot too
I’d love to get a Kindle.
This is a great device to help children get interested in books and reading material.
I love the Daily Reading Goal feature – it’s so good for kids getting use to reading everyday. I believe the more one reads the more easily and quickly it becomes a hobby!