5 Ways to Prepare Your Kid for the Classroom with Confidence

5 Ways to Prepare Your Kid for the Classroom with Confidence

Going back to school can be exciting and nerve-racking at the same time for both parents and children. The best thing you can do is be overly prepared! That's where we come in. I Can Read! stories are fun to read and steadily improve reading comprehension and literacy. They're a reliable solution to keeping kids engaged during the prime months of playtime and fun in the sun. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your kids on a reading schedule this summer:

1. Make books a part of your routine. Carve out a consistent time each day to read with your child. It can be before dinner, at bedtime, or first thing in the morning. Go with the time that works best for your family, and stick with it. Reading every day will help your youngster develop good reading habits in the future.

2. Choose books about characters they love. The I Can Read! brand offers books about beloved characters that withstand the test of time. If they have always loved Fancy Nancy books or they are fans of the TV show on Disney Jr., you could try Fancy Nancy: Time for Puppy School. Your little reader will love joining Nancy as she gets ready to go back to school and prepares Frenchy to go to school, too — puppy school!

3. Turn summer reading into a fun experience. In Splat the Cat and the Lemonade Stand, school’s out and Splat can’t wait to visit the water park. But first, he needs to make money and starts selling lemonade. Read the story and then help your youngster build his or her own lemonade stand. (Bonus points if you use the money to go to a water park!). There are lots of stories like this that can inspire summer outings. Encourage a little Marie Kondo-ing in your house by reading Amelia Bedelia by the Yard. Read “Ice Cream” from Frog and Toad All Year and make a trip to your local ice cream parlor. The sky’s the limit!

4. Find books with relevant plot lines. It’s helpful if you choose stories that your child can relate to. Plenty of books focus on summer vacations, baseball games, and preparing for school. The Best Seat in Kindergarten is about all of the excitement and uncertainty that comes with starting kindergarten. Reading this story could help your child know what to expect on their first day of school!

5. Take turns reading. If your child is used to hearing you read aloud, don’t stop just because they're picking up steam. Children learn in many different ways, and reading to one another can help turn reading into an exercise for both of you. It's also a great way to bond with your youngster during these early stages of development.

If you’re looking for more guidance, we’ve got you covered. Click here for 100 Tips for Beginning Readers.

For a complete list of wondrous books that are great for early readers, check out the I Can Read! collection.

For convenient monthly deliveries designed to engage and excite your first-time reader, join the I Can Read! Book Club.

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