Make Summer Reading Fun with Subscriptions

​Summertime is playtime! You and your child have worked hard all year so it’s the perfect time to preserve cognitive gains in fun ways. One great way to keep learning alive is through monthly subscriptions- boxes or magazines.

Subscriptions are a wonderful way to provide your child with interesting reading material aligned with their interests. Boxes include books and related kinesthetic activities. Here are a couple of links to get you started:

• Subscription Boxes: We like this hellosubscription.com list.
• Magazines: We like this Parent’s Choice Awards list.

Before deciding on a magazine or reading box subscription for your young reader, we recommend doing these first:

​Go to the library or bookstore

​Take a trip to your local library or favorite bookstore and give your child some time to explore on their own. As they do so, jot down the names of sections they seem drawn to, as well as any book or magazine titles which seem to catch their attention.

​Check your home

​Think about what type of reading material your child seems to gravitate to at home. If you have a chance to talk with your child’s teacher before the year ends, ask them for ideas. It’s possible that there’s a certain topic or style of book which your child enjoys reading at school.

​Check out cancellation policies

​As you know, kids’ interests can quickly change. You want to be able to cancel the subscription when and if their interests switch. On the other hand, if your child has stayed with an interest for a long time, you are safe signing up for a subscription even if it can’t be cancelled as easily.

​Search online

While it’s nice to have so many different subscriptions to choose from, it can get a little overwhelming. Use the convenience of the internet to find reviews for any of material that your child likes.

Remember, that while you do want to get a subscription which is both fun and educational, they key here is to give your child something that will make reading exciting and that will make them light up when they check the mailbox. And they won’t miss a beat when school starts up in the fall.