Your opinion please....paying kids for reading?

[cruisnfamily]

My DD's friend gets paid for reading during the summer. She gets $1 per hour. This is the 3rd year that DD has tried to get me to go along with this plan but I won't.

I require my kids to read a minimum of 30 minutes per day during the summer.....for free. It's not a choice.

So what do you think?? Pay for reading? Or require reading with no pay?

 

[katerkat]

Oh my gosh - I would be a millionaire if my mom paid me to read!!

I waver - I think some incentive is good - but I wouldn't outright PAY them to read. My bookstore has a summer reading program where kids can write up a little thing about each book they read and enter a drawing. Every week there's a small prize and at the end of the summer, a drawing for a computer. So there's incentive to read. I know my library did that when I was a kid - maybe see if your library or local bookstore does that? That way they have an incentive to read!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Some kids need the extra incentive to pick up a book and read, especially during the summer. Is this money being paid by your friend to her kids or is it charitablelike the Buck a Book program?

 

[snoopy]

My boys always participate in the summer reading program sponsored at the library, you read a certain number of books and you get a prize. Also, they have a similar program through AMC movies that they participate in as well -- read books for free popcorn. I'd say paying them $1 per hour is a bit much, but I've been lucky in that both of my boys like to read.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

Well I guess it all depends on the child and how hard it is to get them to read. I think it would be better if you help your child find something that interests them to read. My DS (10) was never a reader and his god mother is a reading teacher. He finally discovered Captain Underpants books and Harry Potter (he is finshing up the 5th book today) and now enjoys reading. I hate pressuring him to read as I think reading should be an enjoyable experience not something forced on you.I LOVE to read but if someone told me I had to read a certain book...forget it, it would remain unread.

 

[tjmw2727]

I voted no I would not pay my girls to read. Luckily they are both avid readers, they have been read to since forever and dh and I read so its pretty normal around here.

The local library is doing a program where they get stamps for the number of 1/2 hours read and my girls will participate in this. These stamps then can be then turned in for either little (junk) prizes, or lottery type tickets for biger prizes. Its fun because so many kids participate - share good reads and do crafts and projects as well.

TJ

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by iNTeNSeBLue98
Is this money being paid by your friend to her kids or is it charitablelike the Buck a Book program?

It's being paid by the girl's grandmother to her directly for reading.

Well I guess it all depends on the child and how hard it is to get them to read.

This is a kid who does fine in school and reading. Not necessary in my opinion!


Both my kids are really, really good readers....several grade levels above where they should be but neither of my children would choose to read if there was something else to do....unfortunately they don't love reading, they're just good at it. I can only imagine how good their reading levels would be if they actually wanted to read. So, I continue to require reading daily and hope for the best. Every once in while DS will get hooked on a series and then he'll read like gangbusters 'til he blows thru the series and then it's back to mandatory reading time. DD has yet to get hooked on anything but she reads well and puts in her time when I say it's time to read. Besides, she has summer reading homework for her new middle school so it's not really even a choice for her this summer.

 

[Disney Doll]

I just wonder if that type of policy is going to instill a "if I don't get paid for it I don't do it" mentality in that child? I remember my parents giving me an allowance as a child, but they always made it very clear that they were giving me an allowance to be nice, not because I did my chores. Their contention was that as a member of the family, I had some responsibilities with regard to the functioning of the family home which were not negotiable in terms of payment.

Once I started working, the allowance stopped but the expectation that I would continue to do the various chores required did not stop.

Paid for reading??? NEVER would have happened at my house. It was expected that I read, no questions, cajoling, or bribery involved. Of course, I liked to read, so it never became an issue.

 

[Tinkbell]

I think you should look into your local library summer reading progams first. Reading for money doesn't sit well with me for some reason.

 

[CBRorBust]

I personally don't think kids should have to be paid to do anything. I agree check out your libraries reading program or do the AMC theater one or maybe Pizza Hut if they still do the Book It program.

I just think those parents who pay their kids to do chores and such are insane! (sorry to all the DIS'ers who do pay their kids! )

 

[buzzlady]

I wouldn't pay my kids to read. But since the kids will be reading anyway, there is a site online that the kids read books that are on a list. After reading the book, they take a quiz about the book and earn points for their correct answers. Earn points and then cash them in for a prize (books).

http://www.bookadventure.org/

 

[gina2000]

I've never paid my son to read but I just might try it! He's a great reader....well above his grade level...but unless the book really captures his imagination, he couldn't care less. I keep reminding him that reading is knowledge and knowledge is power but it's getting me nowhere. We insist that he read 1/2 hr to 45 minutes per day....but in my mind, that's not enough.

We join the library summer reading program and we've done bookadventure.org in the past. I'm going to try both those incentives first.

 

[newholiday]

nope DS does not get paid for reading

and I did tell him he will be reading at least 2 books (HP and the Order of the Phoenix and Eragon) this summer besides his school reading

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I really do not like the idea of having to bribe children to want to read. It is a life skill. It's not somethilng they are always going to be paid for, but something they are always going to be glad they can do.

I voted not to pay them.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I don't pay my son to read. He hates to read and wont pick up a book unless its required for school. He did participate in the pizza hut book it program, but the pizza hut is so far away from our home we didnt use it. I might do a sticker chart/reward type thing. I dont even pay our kids for good grades. Reading in the summer is encouraged at our kids school, but its optional. Alot of the parents seem to want it to be mandatory so it will probably end up like that. I am all for that one. It doesnt matter what the book, nothing seems to hold his interest. He usually picks a book based on a movie, ie. willie wonka, babe the pig etc. Reading a biography is like sheer torture to him. His teacher has been so creative with literature this year, but next year he wont be getting that. So it will just be torture for me to get him to read.Good luck. Just keep on reading!!!

 

[ElizK]

I voted "no", but I have paid my DD's money for math worksheets done during the summer months. I paid them .25 cents per page, and they got to spend all the money at Disney World when we went. One daughter earned $11.00, and other a bit less, maybe $9.75. That's a lot of math! They both enjoy reading, math not so much.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Just to clarify.....I'm not thinking about doing this! My kids will read a minimum of 1/2 hour per day and do 2 worksheet pages per day.....all for free. They'll do it because that's what I expect. Obviously if we're too busy on some days it won't happen but for the most part it does happen. I feel like they won't lose as much ground over the summer with this routine.

Anyway, I was just wondering if I was a weirdo for being against paying for this. I personally think it's a terrible idea!

and I did tell him he will be reading at least 2 books (HP and the Order of the Phoenix and Eragon) this summer besides his school reading

Newholiday...you're the first I've seen mention school reading over the summer. Is it assigned books from school? My DD has assigned reading from the middle school she'll be attending and this is the first time I've ever heard of this. She has a reading list and at least 2 books off it are mandatory.

 

[Kallison]

I don't pay for report cards but I do pay to read in the summer. It's just a fun little contest that the siblings have with each other. My middle DS loves to read, so he will if I pay him or not. The oldest is starting to get into it more, he had to read for 20 min. of homework every night for English in middle school. He did so much extra credit he has 105 for his final grade. I give them a penny a page for major chapter books. My kids have to read one hour in the summer, not on weekends and they also have to do 30 min. of math, at least every other day.

 

[Otto's Doll]

Originally posted by cruisnfamily
Newholiday...you're the first I've seen mention school reading over the summer. Is it assigned books from school? My DD has assigned reading from the middle school she'll be attending and this is the first time I've ever heard of this. She has a reading list and at least 2 books off it are mandatory.

My kids have been assigned reading homework over the summer as long as they have been in school. Some years they get a list to choose from, then they must take a test at the school on the books, or they can do a project or report relating to the book. Some years the books have been sent home on the last day of school and then they must do an outline or short question/answer sheet on the books. Usually they have to do 5 such projects.
I guess this is a district policy, since all 4 elementary schools participate.

DS also had the same teacher for 2 years (they looped for 3rd and 4th grade) and she assigned homework over the summer between 3rd and 4th that was graded as the first two marks of the new quarter. My son did a report on dinosaurs and a summer long journal.

As to the original question... nope, I would not pay for reading. Reading for 30 minutes a day is expected in our house.