Last week I read a post, linked into my Let kids be kids linky, over at 92three30, by the lovely Erica Hughes. It was a reading challenge. It really inspired me to do something similar for BB.
We love christmas and all the build up to it, but sometimes it can get a bit much and by the time christmas comes, the children are all very hyped up. So, I thought, how about setting a reading challenge for BB to complete through December. It may give us something else to focus on aside from Christmas.
I wrote out a list of things for BB to read/do before christmas and if he completes it, he will get a prize. I thought, I would take him to a book shop and let him choose a book to buy.
Here’s the reading challenge…..
- Read a christmas book
- Read the nativity story
- Read a leaflet
- Read the back of a cereal packet
- Visit the library
- Read a non-fiction book
- Read the blurb from a book you’ve not read
- Read a magazine
- Read a poem
- Read some road signs
- Read some signs in shop windows
- Read a book aloud to a sibling (or other child)
- Tell an adult about your favourite book
- Read a comic
- Read the instructions from a game
As BB is only 5 and a half, he will need help with these, but I think that is all part of it.
I then thought, how about getting some of his friends involved, so I asked his two best friends, if they fancied joining in and both have happily accepted the challenge.
Next, I wanted to make the challenge visual too (as they’re only 5), so I set about painting three christmas trees. I then cut out 15 circles (for each) of coloured paper and wrote each challenge on one. When a challenge is complete, BB can stick the circle on his xmas tree like a bauble and see how well he is doing.
I am really excited about this, as I can see BB is very keen and his friends are also getting excited about it. This morning BB got up and said “it’s December, that means I can start my challenge”, then immediately grabbed a book (a new book) and sat and read it to his sisters.
It was so lovely to watch! I really hope it continues and he completes it. I am not going to push him to do it, as it is supposed to be fun, I am hoping he will continue to want to.
Thank you very much Erica Hughes for this idea (and some of the challenges).
We’re in this stage. This post is definitely gonna help up. 🙂
I read that post, too, and thought it was a brilliant idea. Boo can’t read yet, but when she can. we’ll get onto it! Hope your challenge goes down well x