Top 10 Summer Reading Programs 2010

Chuck E Cheese Reading Rewards

Did you know that Chuck E Cheese offers free tokens for other stuff such as good manners, sleeping all night, tooth fairy, etc.? Anyway, for their reading program, all the child has to do is just read (since there're no guidelines on how long, I would just assume at least 15 minutes) each day for two weeks (14 days). Complete the Reading Rewards Calendar as your child reads and bring it to the nearest Chuck E Cheese. They will then give you 10 free tokens with the completed calendar and a pizza purchase. This offer lasts until 12/31/10.

HE Buddy Reading Club

This site promotes healthy eating for children. Just have your child read 10 books and fill out the form along with the parent's initials after each book. Then mail the form per the form instructions (must be postmarked by 10/1/10) and get a free nifty T-shirt - oh, don't forget to mark your child's t-shirt size in the form before sending it.

National Amusements Bookworm Wednesdays

National Amusements is a movie theater chain that owns Cinema de lux, thebridge, Showcase Cinemas, and Multiplex Cinemas. The child must read a book and write a simple book report using their Book Report Form. Just present the completed Book Report Form each Wednesday at 10AM at participating theaters from 7/7/10 through 8/18/10 and that book report will be good for one free admission to the selected movie for that showing - that's 6 free movies. Sound good? There's more. Any parents accompanying the child that submitted the book report AND children under 6 years old also get to get in for free!

What's that you say? Sounds like a great deal, but unfortunately there are no such theaters near you? Well, I've got a better deal. Regal Entertainment Group, which owns Regal Cinemas and Edwards Cinemas is offering 9 weeks of free select G and PG each Tuesday and Wednesday at 10AM during its Free Family Film Festival - that's 18 free movies. This is first-come first-serve so give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the theater. Just click on the link above and select the 9-week schedule for your state and a list should appear for all participating theaters in your state. I know I know - this one doesn't have anything to do with reading, but I thought I'd throw it in for some EXTRA fun!

Alright - maybe you can tell I really love taking kids to movies (because it's so hot here in Dallas), but here's another deal - AMC Theaters is offering a Summer Movie Camp that offers movies on Tuesdays at 10AM from 6/15/10 through 8/10/10 for only $1 per ticket. All admission and concession proceeds will benefit two AMC charities, Variety - The Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.

Your Local Library's Summer Reading Program

Go to Google and enter "[Your City] Library Summer Reading Program" and you'll find that more often than not, your local library will have some cool stuff for your children's reading enjoyment.

Your Own Summer Reading Program

Not satisfied with any of the above? Then create your own reading program. You know your kids the best so I'm sure you can think of the best incentive that will motivate them to read this summer. Designed right, I think that this one will be the best summer reading program of them all.