Tying Books to Trips

Reading can be made more enjoyable when a child can connect the book to a special event. Many times throughout the summer and even on holidays families travel. Whether the trip is to see the grandparents or to go to the Grand Canyon, tying books to a trip can go a long way to having a child enjoying reading.

When you stand and gaze upon the battlefield at Gettysburg, a sense of awe overcomes you. If your vacation is to see this enormous and important American Civil War battlefield, make sure that you have a guide with you or a self-guiding tour map. Discuss what happened there and the implications of it. Before leaving the national park, stop by the visitor’s center and pick up a book that is age appropriate for your child(ren).  Reading about the Civil War and the history will become more interesting when they have actually been to a real site. The book will be more real to them and the story will come alive to them.

Do the grandparents live near the Grand Canyon? Get some books on the early explorers of the area. Books on the animals that live there are excellent choices. Seeing the majesty of the natural wonders will have your child wanting to learn more and discover if they have missed anything.

Too often, books are viewed as boring words on pages that children are forced to read. It becomes something more than just words when they are familiar with the subject. When they have seen the Liberty Bell, they become curious about the men who made it, who used it, and the city it is in. Words coming alive, makes reading more enjoyable.

Before taking a trip, see if you can find books at the local library or the bookstore that is about a place you will be visiting. Geography books can be fun. Books on leaves as you go through an area to view the fall colors will get their attention. Make reading fun by making it real.