The Summer Reading Challenge is an educational competition in the UK that has been held annually since 1999. It was started by The Reading Agency in the UK with an intention to help children develop the habit of reading in their summer holidays. Young participants of this challenge are awarded stickers and badges based on their performance in the competition. Over time, this challenge has spread to countries beyond the UK, to the USA and Europe. Every year, the participating libraries are being provided with the material in large prints for the stickers and badges for children who take part in the challenge. Libraries also work closely with schools during this time to prepare for the Summer Reading Challenge. Invitations are sent to children’s homes so the families can participate too. Young adults and teenagers who don’t take part in this challenge are often seen volunteering in libraries to show support to the children who are participating. 

How does the Summer Reading Challenge work?

The kids competing in this challenge have to get themselves registered with their local participating libraries. The kids are then provided with the Summer Reading Challenge sheet by those libraries wherein they track their progress and add stickers to fill the sheet. They can read two books at a time and will receive two stickers every time they finish a book. Once they have read all the six books and filled their sheet with stickers, they will show it to the librarian and receive a medal and a certificate.

How to Encourage Your Children to Read?

Parents everywhere want what is best for their children. As we all know reading is a very healthy hobby for kids and helps in brain’s development, parents should encourage their kids from a young age to read books. Some of the ways in which you can help your children develop the habit of reading are discussed below.

Read with your child

Kids learn more by observing. If you want your child to love reading books, become their reading buddy. It will also help you bond with your child and spend quality time with them.

Schedule reading into your daily routine

To make reading an important part of your kid’s life, set a time to read on a daily basis. Encourage your little ones to schedule their reading so they can completely focus and enjoy their reading activity.

Encourage them to read on their own

Parents should also let their kids read on their own. It helps them become independent and establish a relationship with reading.

Fill your house with interesting books

As a parent, you need to provide your kids with an environment that helps them learn good habits. So your child needs to be surrounded by interesting books in the house for them to develop a strong connection with book reading.

You can find a lot of other ways to help your kids develop a love for reading books. You can watch this short video below for some more ideas.

Austin Macauley’s Bingo Challenge

As summer vacations are around the corner, this is the best time to get your little ones involved in fun-filled reading activities. We at Austin Macauley, have come up with an exciting reading challenge so you and your kids can have the best reading experience this summer. Austin Macauley’s Reading Challenge brings a Summer Reading Bingo Card for you which has different reading activities for 25 days. You will colour each bingo square as you complete the challenge for the day. Once you complete the challenge, send it to us, along with a photo on our social media handles by tagging us on Instagram Post or Story at @austinmacauleypublishers, on Facebook through commenting on this post or tweeting us at @AustinMacauley. Make sure to use the hashtag #AMReadingChallenge. For the winners, we have exciting prizes of Back-to-School Goodies and any 3 books from our website of your choice for free.

Send in your entries before September 10^th 2021 and be a part of this exciting Bingo Challenge!

Bingo Card Activities for You

Some of the fun activities we have designed for you and your kids so you can enjoy the summer days reading are;

• To read for 20 minutes
• To read at night using a torch
• Draw a picture of a character from a book you are reading
• Borrow a book from a friend or library
• Lend a book to a friend
• Read inside while it is raining
• Read outside in the sun
• Read on a journey

Click the image below to download the Bingo Card.

By following our specially designed Bingo Card, you will be able to read books in new thrilling ways. Every day, an exciting activity will be awaiting you and your kids so you can experience a fun-filled summer vacation. Why not print a copy for yourself so you too can complete challenges with your children and colour in your own bingo card.

So, enjoy summer vacations this year with our Bingo Card. Don’t forget to tag us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with your Summer Reading Challenge pictures and posts. We look forward to receiving your entries.

If you are a parent, teacher or carer, we welcome you to bring your own version of the Summer Reading Challenge for your kids and select from a large collection of books on our website.