Summer Reading Programs for 2015 – Includes Rewards and Incentives (Including Cash!)

Reading is such a great, fundamental and developmental activity for kids (and adults) and the summer break is a perfect time to nurture and encourage this skill. It can be difficult in this day and age of technology everywhere to let the fine art of reading slip aside, but we want to encourage you to encourage your children and one way to do that is with these fun and rewarding reading programs! So, if you are looking for fun and rewarding 2015 summer reading programs this summer for your kids, then check out this list of options below:

1. Barnes and Noble Summer Reading: earn a free book between May 19 and September 7 when you read 8 books.
2. Chuck E. Cheese – Earn 10 FREE tokens every time your child reads for 2 weeks in a row.  Just fill out the form and bring it in to claim your free token. There are also lots of other free rewards charts for more free tokens.
3. Half Price Book Feed Your Brain: During the months of June and July, if a child reads or a young child read to for 300 total minutes, they earn Bookworm Bucks. Just download and complete the form.
4. Showcase Theatre Bookworm Wednesdays: Kid earn free admission to a movie just by reading and completing a short book report. The movie is on Wednesdays at 10am from July 8th – July 29th at participating locations.
5. Pottery Barn Kids– Receive a free gift when your child attends 5 out-loud story times. 
6. Scholastic Summer Challenge: Offers a chance for kids to log their reading times into their system to compete for the World Record and earn points to redeem for rewards from May 4 – Sept. 4, 2015.
7. Sylvan: Sylvan Reading Adventure is ongoing, so it’s not specifically a summer program, but it’s worth mentioning if it will get your kids motivated. Reading Adventure lists books to read, and when kids take short quizzes about the books, they earn points. The points can then be traded for small prizes, like temporary tattoos or eBook downloads.
8. TD Bank: Young readers can earn a $10 deposit after they read 10 books, June 1 – August 31, 2015.
9. Pizza Hut BookIT program will begin June 22. The details are coming soon…but you can check out the site for more information.
10. Check with your local library for region/area specific programs offered either through the library or local businesses.  We have found another 4-6 just in our small local area!

Finally, start your own summer reading program and challenge your kids (and yourself) or even include other families/groups and set-up a summer end reward when all meet their goal. This could be a day at the zoo, swimming, amusement park…whatever incentive you can create and motivates all!

A picture of us reading at home out loud with all 5 kids snuggled around on the couch!

Of course, just sit down and read out loud to your kids! It is so rewarding for both you and them! It is also increasingly important to their development and your relationship with your child!

See more Thrifty Kids ideas!