Jasper Municipal Library staff
Summer is a great time for kids to take a break from the pressures of standardized education, but that doesn鈥檛 mean they should leave their brains in their lockers for two months. It鈥檚 important to keep them reading and learning to retain and build on skills they develop at school. Reading also helps them grow into engaged, informed, empathetic adults.
The trick to keeping kids learning over summer holidays is to have fun with it. Learning should be exciting, not a chore. Let them choose what topics, genres, formats and titles interest them and don鈥檛 worry about reading levels or proficiency. Here are a few fun ways to build literacy into your family鈥檚 summer:
- TD Summer Reading Club: The TD Summer Reading Club is Canada鈥檚 biggest, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests and abilities. Offered across Canada, it celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories, and inspires kids to explore the fun of reading. When you register at the library, your child will receive a prize, a free notebook and stickers to track their reading. We will also offer weekly activity books from July 10 to Aug. 28. Visit the TD Summer Reading Club website at for additional activities.
- Activity Kits: Kavell has built some amazing loanable activity kits full of games, books and activities for your enjoyment this summer. English-language options include the Art Kit, Explorer Kit, Story Kit and Yoga Kit. French-language options include la Trousse D鈥橢xplorateur and la Trousse de Nuit. Kits will be available starting July 10.
- Visit Libraries: Did you know your library card will work at any public library in Alberta? Lots of families take advantage of this fact when they鈥檙e in Jasper. You can do the same when you鈥檙e visiting other communities. Bonus fact: if you鈥檙e done with materials you borrowed at one Alberta library, you can return them at another.
- Listen to Audiobooks: Nothing makes a car trip go faster than a good audiobook. Streaming, downloadable or on CD, we have them in many formats. If you have a print disability, you can also access audiobooks through our CELA and NNELS reader services.
- Play Games: Tabletop and card games are a great way to build literacy and numeracy skills, strengthen family relationships, sharpen kids鈥� focus and teach them how to be good winners and losers.
- Read together: There are so many ways to read together, and each of them will build your child鈥檚 literacy skills and strengthen your relationship with them. Snuggle up and read aloud. Let them read to you. Read your own book (adults need summer reading, too!) while your child reads theirs nearby. Take an interest in and read what your older kids are reading. You鈥檇 be surprised how compelling and well-written juvenile and young adult fiction books can be, and these can be a gentle entry point into conversations about tough topics.
Come see us at the library! We look forward to your visit.
