• About
    • Hi, I’m Jen!
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Courses
    • FREE Principled Christmas Gift-Giving Mini Course
    • About the “Media That Matters” Course
    • Signature Caramel Apple Dashboard
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Raise The Good

  • Home
  • Resources By Age
    • Children
    • Teens
    • Adults
  • Media Type
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Movies
    • TV/Video Clips
  • Topics
    • Character Traits
    • Education
    • Faith
    • Intentional Living
    • Parenting
    • Adulting
    • Holidays and Special Occasions
    • Hero Spotlight
  • Favorite Things
  • Shop
    • Cart
  • Free Printables

May 25, 2017 · 18 Comments

A Reading System That Works

Books· Parenting

*From Jen: Much thanks for Ralphie for this fantastic post! Please click on her links to learn more about what she has to offer. I love this reading idea- and it really does work! For my book recommendations, click here.

By Ralphie Jacobs from Simply On Purpose
​
Did you know that the number one indicator of academic success is being an avid reader??? Talk about pressure to make sure that happens for your kids! Especially when each of them have their own natural inclinations to either love reading or… not so much. Here is a reading system that will really work.

I think that a lot of us feel like our children should have an intrinsic desire to read… just for the love of reading, because most adults get that feeling.  But the reality is that most things don’t become rewarding in and of themselves until you’ve been given LOTS of exposure and experience with that thing.

 So, here enters the reward system.

I have done lots of different reading reward systems, but the one that we are using now has been by far the most effective at getting my children to look forward to reading and fostering that highly desired ability to get lost in a book. AND it’s self-reinforcing which is huge.

My kids call it… THE MOM STORE.

What you’ll need:

  • A big plastic bin filled with snacks that are not too messy, semi-healthy, and pretty novel!
  • Stuffed animals
  • A small container for tickets
  • Tickets
  • Plastic baggies with each child’s name

Pretty simple so far, right?  It is!  Here’s how to do it:

1. Each time a child finishes a book she is given 1 ticket for every 10 pages that she reads.  These books must be at her reading level and she has to finish the book in order to get the tickets.  After a while, she will have a nice pile of them saved up.  ​

2. The Mom Store is a big plastic bin that you fill with snacks and stuffed animals.  

​3. Here is the key: The Mom Store is only opened if all of the kids are committing to 1 hour of reading.  It does not open under any other circumstance.  

4. The kids use their tickets to either purchase snacks or rent “reading buddies” (stuffed animals).

5. Another key element: The snacks and reading buddies can only be used during reading time. They can’t purchase things with their tickets to use later, so make sure that they are getting a moderate amount.

That’s it!  Watch as they get excited for reading time!  During the school year we do The Mom Store on the weekends and during the summer we do it every day.  

You can add other things to The Mom Store for them to earn as well.  Some of those things they have to earn collectively, and others they can earn from themselves. We’ve done:

  • Lunch Dates With Daddy    
  • Just Dance Party    
  • Smoothie Taste Test
  • Rootbeer Floats
  • Movie Theater
  • Picnic

A good friend of mine started The Mom Store recently and here’s what she had to say about it:

“A month ago I was struggling to get some of my kids excited about reading so I asked Ralphie for ideas about her Mom Store. I had heard so much about it from her kids in our carpool. In the last month I now have 2 reluctant readers who ask to read. Giving extra rewards for reading has changed how my kids feel about reading and does not even require extra effort on my part. It is awesome to see my house now full of readers!”

Be creative! Have fun putting a store together.  And most of all, happy reading!!!

Ralphie writes all about motherhood, parenting, and living with purpose on her Instagram feed: @simplyonpurpose.  You can also learn more at her website, simplyonpurpose.org. Come follow along!

   

Don’t miss out!

Related Posts

How to Make Time For Inspiring Books and Movies
Changing My Parenting to Stop Being a Control Freak
love to read books
How To Make Sure Your Kids Love To Read

Previous Post: « 10 Favorite Clean Adventure Series for Older Kids
Next Post: 5 Ways To Find A Mentor For Your Child »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lindsey says

    May 25, 2017 at 1:54 pm

    I’m excited to try this with my 7 and 5 year old this summer. How many tickets do you “charge” per item?

    Reply
    • Ralphie says

      May 26, 2017 at 9:37 pm

      Hi Lindsey! It just depends. Most treats are 5-7 tickets. Other big items like doing to lunch with daddy cost 20.

      Reply
  2. Autumn says

    May 25, 2017 at 3:36 pm

    Do you recommend any books for new readers, we are completing the BOB books and my Kindergartener cannot wait to read chapter books.
    Thanks so much!!!

    Reply
    • Ralphie says

      May 26, 2017 at 9:41 pm

      Hello Autumn!
      Emerging chapter books are a pretty big jump from BOB books. At your library they should have a section for early readers. I would just grab a bunch over there and slowly work the child up as he/she builds fluency and comprehension. Some of those books that pretend to be chapter books are The Princess In Black and Penny and Her Song.

      Reply
      • Janalyn says

        May 28, 2017 at 6:25 am

        My daughter loved the Princess Posey 1st grader series.

        Reply
  3. Melissa says

    May 25, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    I love this. I have a five year old that just learned to read this year and a 3 year old that I think I could set up with an audio-read- a-long-book. This will be such an awesome tool this summer and a great way to get them excited about reading. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Ralphie says

      May 26, 2017 at 9:42 pm

      Yay! It’s a great way to get a quiet time for you too. Have a great summer!

      Reply
  4. Renee says

    May 25, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    I have always been a huge reader & of course I want my boys to be too. I am so excited to try the Mom Store this summer! I think it sounds like an amazing way to make reading time special.

    Reply
    • Ralphie says

      May 26, 2017 at 9:42 pm

      It really is! They’ll ask to read which is huge!

      Reply
  5. Haley says

    June 7, 2017 at 1:05 pm

    Could you do a ticket for every 10 minutes of reading? Instead of per 10 pages? To accommodate the younger readers who may not get through as many pages as their older siblings in the same amount of time, and feel bad that they only got 1 ticket while their older sister got 4. Has anyone tried this or another variation?

    Reply
  6. Rebecca says

    August 25, 2017 at 9:41 am

    So when implementing this the first time, they are earning tickets to be used towards their next reading time? And the store would then open before the next reading time as long as everyone commits to an hour of reading?

    Reply
  7. Tyler Gray says

    December 3, 2017 at 11:23 pm

    Reading can enlarge the intellectual background of the students. The more the books are read, the more knowledge will be broadened. At the same time, it will allow students to enrich their minds in reading, making their minds more active and flexible.

    Reply
  8. Brittanie says

    May 23, 2018 at 12:44 pm

    How does this work for 3 almost 4 year old and a almost two year old? Can it work? I like the concept just not sure if we are there yet. Let me know thanks.

    Reply
    • Lu says

      May 23, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      I did it for my 2 and 4 year old last year who didn’t know how to read. I just had them look through books, or do audio books for a shorter length of time (30 minutes), and came up with a ticket payment system that worked for us. I would also read to them later on. It was nice to have that half hour of added quiet time where they did it themselves while my oldest read, and I could get some things done.

      Reply
      • Brittanie says

        May 23, 2018 at 1:30 pm

        I like that idea. Do you have any tips for how to introduce the idea in a way they can understand?

        Reply
    • Jessica says

      May 23, 2018 at 1:22 pm

      This is my question too. I have 3 non-readers, a 5 yr old, barely 3 yr old, and barely 2 yr old. Maybe I could set the 5 yr old up with head phones and the younger two I could read to them? Or is there a better way?

      Reply
      • Brittanie says

        May 23, 2018 at 1:32 pm

        That sounds like A good Idea. I do like the idea of them “reading” by themselves. I just don’t know how to get the almost 2 year old to understand.

        Reply
  9. Julie says

    August 9, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    I noticed your girls wearing headphones in the poctures. What is playing on the headphones? White noise?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi! I'm Jen. Wife, mom of 5, and someone who is deliberately trying to shape the family culture in our home by focusing on uplifting and inspiring media and other resources. If you are looking for an alternative to negative pop culture- you're in the right place!

SIGN UP FOR MY FREE QUICK START EMAIL COURSE: MEDIA THAT MATTERS!

5 ways in 5 days to deliberately use media to inspire and teach character.

Shop My Favorites for Kids:

Find All MY Recommendations At Amazon Here!

Raise The Good Store

Let’s Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Footer

Related Posts

woman and child
What Can I Do About Racism?
piggy bank
Financial Education for Teens (or you!)
How to Stop Pointing Fingers and Take Responsibility
10 Favorite Clean Adventure Series for Older Kids
clean romance
My Favorite Things: Top 7 Clean Romance Authors

Copyright © 2023 · captivating theme by Restored 316