I have had so much fun this summer watching my son participate in the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Now in it’s 8th year, the program is dedicated to stopping that “Summer Slide” kids can get by encouraging them to read during the summer months by providing fun weekly challenges and the chance to earn digital rewards.
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge theme is “Reading Under the Stars” and is powered by EVEREADY®. Throughout the summer, kids will read around the galaxy and unlock star constellations as they log reading minutes. Each day, Hayden logs onto the site with me and enters in his minutes. In a little over a month, he has logged 420 minutes of reading time!
And as of today, kids around the world have read 188,222,929 minutes for the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge – already breaking the 2013 world record! Way to go kids!
For even more fun this year, I decided to have a Summer Reading Under the Stars party. Well, after a minor accident and then thunderstorms, we had to move our party inside but it was even more fun and cozy!
While the kids were upstairs, I got everything ready for our Summer Reading Under the Stars party. Armed with a small tent, EVEREADY® flashlights, books from Scholastic and yummy snacks {adorable cake pops are from Shana’s Sweet Treats in St. Louis!}, the party was ready to start!
After loading up on some snacks and picking out their books, the kids grabbed their EVEREADY® flashlights and we turned off the lights for the reading fun to begin! I’ve always been a huge fan of reading so I am glad to pass this on to my three kids. Every day, they are looking through books so I was excited to have this fun experience with them.
Our Summer Reading Under the Stars party actually lasted a few hours, which I consider a HUGE success! The kids kept running to get more and more books to bring into the tent. This is definitely going to become a summer tradition for our family.
It’s not too late for you to throw your own party! Click on the invite below to save for yourself to send to friends – and hopefully you got a few ideas from our party too!
I know it can be hard for some kids to stay focused and continue to read over the summer months but luckily Scholastic makes it fun with their Summer Reading Challenge! Thank you so much to EVEREADY® and Scholastic for a successful party!
Stay Connected
– Like Scholastic Parents on Facebook
– Follow Scholastic on Twitter – On Mondays, follow the hashtag #MondayMinutes to see how many minutes kids have read to date!
– Follow Scholastic on Instagram
– Follow the Summer Reading Challenge Pinterest Board – Each Friday there will be a new collage of summer books!
– Like the Summer Reading Challenge YouTube Playlist
What do you think of a Summer Reading Under the Stars Party?
Disclosure: I was compensated for the above post but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Reading + Kids is a passion of mine and I love what Scholastic does to encourage it.
Our library has great summer programs for kids.
I love that you brought the outdoors in! We have too many mosquitoes to read outside here.
I love that you’ve made summer reading exciting. My five-year old is just learning to read, but we can possibly participate next summer. Great program!
What a fun reading project. You have made me want to do this the next time my Grandson comes to visit.
Your indoor party is so cute. Perfect for a raining evening! This is a cute idea…Isa n Davey would love having a reading Under the Stars Party!
What a fun reading party! I love that Scholastic does so much to encourage kids to read!
I think this is a great idea.I know my kiddies would really enjoy this.Those cake pops look really nice.
That looked like so much fun! I’m all for the tent being in the house too. You can still get the same effect with darkness and flashlights. 🙂
Ya’lls night looks super fun. I love the stars IN the tent.
How awesome, it looks like they had fun! The cake pops look yummy!
What an awesome idea! I’ve been reading with my son this summer and I completely forgot to log it with Scholastic. We are planning a fun campout in our back yard for next week and I think I may use some of your reading under the stars theme ideas.
I would love to do a summer reading under the stars program with kiddo. That would be so much fun. I am a huge fan of Scholastic and I remember getting those slips of paper from school and running home to beg my mom for all of the books!
What a great idea! We have a similar tent that we keep up in the house. I like your idea of including snacks and flashlights. We’ll have to try this. What a great way to keep kids reading over summer.
I love this idea! I wish I had known about this before I let the kids in my class out for summer break. I am sure they would have participated. I have saved the website to remember for next year. Thanks for the share. 🙂
I loved participating in reading challenges when I was a kid. I love how fun you made it for your kiddos.
How fun! That looks like a great way to spend some quality time with family
This sounds and looks like so much fun. This is a great way to keep kids motivated.
I love summer reading programs. I am sad that we didn’t participate in any this summer.
Wow this is a fantastic idea! What fun. This is something I should do as outside in a big city where we live wouldn’t do! I love everything you did!
This is great! I am inspired, I might be popping our tent in the living room tonight, my kids would love it.
my girl just finished all her reading from the library and met her goal. She loves to read. Great program.
I am always happy when kids take an interest in reading. I love the little station with flashlights and snacks you set up too.
I love the reading under the star idea with the kiddies in the tents. I also the cakepops…I used to make them professionally – those look so cute.
Looks like an awesome party layout. So much fun to do this and enjoy a bit of reading.
Hate that the weather didn’t agree with you. Glad that didn’t stop the party though!
I wish I would’ve known about this earlier! I saw that it started in May. My son loved to read and would’ve gotten a kick of seeing how much he’s read all summer. I have always loved Scholastic books!
Love the pictures! Looks like you all had a great time! Love reading under the stars. 🙂
A reading party under the stars is a cool idea. I’ll have to do it some time with my grandkids.
What a cute party. Such a fun idea. I’m not going to lie, I scrolled up again just to stare at the cake pops. 🙂
I love the tent and flashlight party! How fun is that?!