Over the last six months or so my daughter has really gotten into reading. She reads when she gets up in the morning, reads when I’m working, reads on the subway, and often reads between the time we get home and dinner. I’m not sure why she became so much more interested in the last 6 months – my best guess is that her reading improved so much that she started finding it to be enjoyable rather than a chore.
And, of course, I am thrilled. I’ve loved reading since I learned how and as I’ve mentioned, I read about a book a week. I’m sure I’ve influenced her interest in reading. Even if she didn’t see me reading so often, we have piles of books all over the house and we read together every night.
Background
And I think it’s good for kids to read anything even if it’s junk food reading. At the beginning of the summer Alex was checking out kid’s graphic novels. By encouraging any kind of reading I believe the kid will become interested in all reading. And now she has said that she prefers non-fiction and checked out field guides for birds and for beetles and a bunch of books about Ancient Egypt. Go figure, I read way more fiction than non-fiction.
This year I decided to sign her up for the Summer Reading Program at the library. In the past our schedules didn’t allow us to go to the library as often and she really wasn’t all that interested. I was also a little wary. Way back when I worked in a public library in Tucson the summer reading program at our branch was mobbed. It was great that the kids were so into it but the staff dreaded the days when we had special programs. ;-)
Summer reading programs typically have activities throughout the summer and offer incentives for reading. We went to the opening program where you could sign up and they had a kid’s musical group there called The Cat’s Pajamas, who were really quite entertaining. At the closing program the kids can get their faces painted and are given free books.
The program has a reading game board where you get stickers to fill in the spaces and every so many spaces you get a “prize”. It’s usually little things like pencils, stickers, keychains, etc. I thought that each space was for each book read but it’s for every 15 mins spent reading. Seems like a low threshold for older kids but whatever, at least they are reading. I still made Alex do a book for each space on the board.
And the problem
Last week when we went to the library Alex had eight new books on her list – we had missed going the previous week. I gave her the book list, sent her over to the children’s librarian and told her to say that she had read eight books. Alex came back and told me that she had 4 new stickers and that we needed to get her game board from the box. I went up to the librarian and said, “My daughter got 4 stickers but she read 8 books.” The librarian replied, “It’s our policy to only give 4 stickers at a time.”
I think that is SO lame. How does limiting the number of stickers encourage kids to read? To get the next 4 stickers, we would need to go back the next day or the next time we have free to visit the library. And people with lives can’t go every day!!! I know that I have issues with “authority” but rules like this are pointless. The kids should get a sticker for every book they read. And, of course, she was one sticker away from the next prize spot.
Alex didn’t really care either way. I was super annoyed. The point is getting kids to read – not making arbitrary rules for no good reason.
What do you think?
Update:
After I wrote this post, we were at the library. I mentioned to the librarian that the sticker restriction wasn’t helpful in encouraging children to read.
Librarian: They don’t want kids racing through the game board.
Me: Well so what if they read 30-40 books really fast. The point is that they read 30-40 books. Your policy makes it seem like you want the kids to visit the library more often rather than read a lot of books. And not everyone can come in that often since you are basically only open during work hours.
Librarian (all snooty like): We’ll take your recommendation under consideration for next year.
I think I’m run my own summer reading program next year ;-)
photo credit: ooh_food
photo credit: LonePlacebo
Hi Kim,
It’s crazy rules for the stickers, you can give her private “stickers” – bonus like movie tickets or similar things. But the important is the she love to read.
Hi Marbella – Yeah, I think I’ll set up my own system. What’s funny is she isn’t bothered about the rules and is going to read anyway. She was kind of annoyed with me for complaining to the librarian yesterday.
I agree. It sounds like stupid rules made by some bureaucrat. I hate bureaucracy.
.-= vered – blogger for hire´s last blog ..Why Do You Like Me =-.
Hi Vered – Maybe their sticker budget has been slashed by the Mayor’s office ;-)
It must’ve been thought up by the same person who gave us “Everybody’s a winner.”
I know, bring them a bunch of stickers next week and say, “I bought these for you because I know how budget restrictions can cramp the style of a great program.” :D
.-= Betsy Wuebker´s last blog ..Knowing What We Know Now =-.
Hi Betsy – I’ve been thinking about it and I think they are trying to get people to visit the branch more often – if she reads a ton of books and can only get 4 stickers at a time then we need to go 2-3 times a week to keep up. I love the library but their hours aren’t compatible with working people’s schedules so it really isn’t possible to go more than weekly. Especially since it’s been so hot and humid and we usually walk there.
I like Betsy’s solution and exactly how she said it. I hate those kinds of rules too. I remember when my sons were in that program and it didn’t work quite that way but I know they raced though books to get to the goal (whatever it was) Unfortunately, neither of them loves to read today… but I still do. I hope that whatever the program is and however parents use them, it leads to people who love to read for readings sake.
I am glad that your daughter loves reading and enjoys it . SO the victory is already yours!
.-= Julie Walraven | Resume Services´s last blog ..You will find me at JibberJobber today! =-.
Hi Julie – I’m so glad she loves to read too and hope she continues to enjoy it. I was a little concerned because she started reading later than I did and wasn’t really interested until recently but now it’s completely changed.
I think the main problem is that the library program is doing enough outreach to get new readers – the kids who already like to read are the ones that are participating. Even the librarian kind of gave Alex a hard time for having a couple of graphic novels on her list … so lame.
Geez. File under the heading of “just not getting it”. C’mon. Those libraries have thousands of the stickers. The amount of supplies shipped to us for our summer reading program took up its own section of the storeroom.
That kind of rigidity just bums me out.
George
.-= George Angus´s last blog ..Eats- Shoots & Leaves- A Less Than Punctual Review =-.
Hi George – I was hoping you would stop by since you actually work in a library. I don’t think the issue is supplies – I just think they are being bureaucrats and are making lame rules for no good reason.
Wait until the first kid says, “I quit” with the parent standing there because of the sticker rule.
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Last Post and Current To-Do List =-.
Hi Dennis – I’d like to see that :-)
Hi Kim ~ What a bummer! To give stickers for 15 minutes of reading (now that’s lame in my book) and then to begrudge your daughter after she had actually read books – boggle the mind.
Funny – I won the reading contest every year at school but never seemed to do well with the public library summer ones – not sure why. I think you’re right on target about encouraging reading – having a parent who obviously enjoys reading and lots of books around definitely makes the difference. My mother still thinks that fostering three readers was one of the most important things she did as a parent and I agree.
Too bad the librarians don’t get it.
Liz
.-= Liz Bolton´s last blog ..Cambridge Shred Day &8211 Free Public Paper Shredding =-.
Hi Liz – I think the 15 mins at a time is for the really little kids and that kind of make sense. But the 4 stickers at a time rule is ridiculous. Takes all the fun out of it. Ultimately, I’m just really glad that she loves to read.
I think you have a point in there.. though there should always be rules in everything however you can give your own prize anyway..:) Can you possibly give me some advice on how to let my sister get hooked up with books?..thanks
I think the best way to get people interested in books is to find a book about something that already interests them. For example, my daughter is really into pirates this summer so I got her a bunch of books about pirates from the library. Now she has moved on to books about birds, beetles and ancient egypt.
Wow Kim, I was floored by this story. Are you sure this was the Library or some disguised boot camp project…”You vill do it and you vill LIKE it…giggle.
As you said the main point is that your daughter was not turned off to reading by the way the silly librarian handled things. She still loves reading and that is the most important thing.
I agree that you should run your own summer reading program next year. Maybe you could get with your daughter’s friends mom’s and gather together resources like books from their home library’s that each of the girls haven’t read. Y’all could then have your own reward system of stickers and little treats for the goals accomplished. At the end throw in an old fashioned ice cream social to celebrate all the girls have accomplished.
Hey, that gives me a great idea for our own grandkids for next year. See how this bummer of a summer reading plan can turn into something grand?
Thanks again for another insightful post Kim. I really enjoy your site.
Blessings,
Christine
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Setting Up a Reading Challenge with Rewards =-.
Hi Christine – It’s a shame the library had to make such arbitrary rules – we ended up not finishing the program. At this point, she loves to read so I don’t think I need to provide an incentive. A lot of mornings she gets up and immediately starts reading. If we did a program with a friend, however, that could be a lot of fun.
Thanks!
“Lame”?? You are too generous. Other words spring to my mind, but I will refrain from mentioning them here! Rigid thinking, narrowminded, bureaucratic – this is the sort of behavior that makes my blood boil! And what makes it worse is that they really should know better… Your daughter rose above it, thank goodness – but for other kids it may well have a seriously detrimental effect on their attitude to reading.
(By the way, I see you have all sorts of interesting things on your site – not least your step-by-step idiot-proof guides to Facebook. Ideal for me!)
Hi Georgina – It really was a ridiculous rule – we didn’t end up finishing the program but she reads so much now that it doesn’t matter too much. It’s unlikely that we will be participating in it again next year.
I am a Teen Librarian and I can see the point of a limit of some sort. The idea is to keep kids reading a little bit everyday all summer. Brain research shows that kids need to read at least 20 minutes everyday or they will stagnate or loose abilities. What they read is not at issue. I will admit that the library reading programs are aimed more at the reluctant reader who struggles at getting even 15 or 20 minutes of reading per day. Those 4 stickers at a time mean a lot to them. Others do find it lame. Truthfully, we are not worried about the super readers in terms of their lifelong reading skills. Those kids are winners already. Readers are leaders. Hopefully your local library has a kids books club and your daughter can connect with other kids who love to read. If not, offer to start one if they give you a space. It only takes a few hours a month and the kids love talking about books. It’s a favorite with my teens here. Best of luck.
Hi Shelley – Thanks for your comment!
My main frustration is that weren’t always able to get to the library that often – sometimes not even once a week. The 4 sticker limitation caused a problem because the number of books she had read built up in between our visits.
She is reading all the time now so she definitely loves to read and doesn’t need any incentive. Now she loves knowing she can more books from the library or that I am willing to buy her books. I’m really happy because I love to read and I’m glad the two of us share that.
I’m a librarian in a little Iowa town and I think the sticker rule is silly too! Why would you restrict a kid’s reading amount? As a librarian, it’s not even good LIBRARY policy. We want kids to check out LOTS of books. I can see putting a limit on something like prizes (for funding reasons) but not on stickers!
Thanks Tina – the biggest issue for us is that we couldn’t get to the library more than every 7-10 days. By only giving 4 stickers each visit we would have had to get there more often.
Silly rules that suck the fun out of things … we won’t be participating in it this summer.
That rule sucks to the core. Period. Why would they even limit if your children is capable of reading so much? There is no such thing as reading overdose isn’t it?
It sure does – and we didn’t bother doing the official summer reading program this year because of it.