FREE Reading Incentive Programs for Kids (2023)

Reading incentives are a great way to help encourage kids to read more during the summer and the school year.

While reading incentives aren’t necessarily proven to help improve students reading, they are a fun way to reward and encourage students already reading. Plus depending on each child’s personality a reading rewards program might work in encouraging new readers to read.

I remember when I was growing up doing a reading rewards program to get a free ticket to a waterpark. I was always so excited to complete the reading challenge and get that ticket I worked so hard for.

As a mom, I love finding these fun programs for my kids to participate in during the summer and during the school year.

reading stories with dad

Summer reading programs are a great way to keep kids reading and learning during the summer. Many summer reading programs have a rewards system so kids earn prizes for meeting reading goals.

We always love participating in summer reading rewards programs it helps us be sure to spend time reading during the summer. Plus the kids love getting prizes for reading.

Today I’m sharing some summer reading rewards programs that can help your kids get excited about reading.

What are Reading Rewards Programs

Reading incentive programs often called reading rewards programs are a fun way to encourage kids to spend more time reading. These programs are often offered by local libraries, businesses, banks, and sports teams.

Some of these programs are specifically for the summer months to help prevent the summer slide. While others are year-round programs designed to help kids develop a lifelong love of reading.

How to Find Reading Incentive Programs

Talking to parents, teachers, and businesses in your area is a great way to find out about special events and programs for kids. Social media especially local parenting groups and pages are another great way to find out about reading programs.

Also be sure to check local banks, sports teams, and libraries for reading programs. In our area, there are also a couple of toy stores that have fun reading clubs and do storytimes for young readers throughout the year.

In this post, I’m excited to share with you some awesome reading incentive programs I know about for elementary students (and beyond). Some of these programs are year-round, others are summer reading programs and a few of them are designed for elementary schools during the school year.

I’m going to break up the reading rewards programs into two different sections Summer Reading Programs and Reading Programs (everything but summer-only programs).

First up since it’s almost summer as I’m writing this post let’s look at summer reading programs!

FREE Summer Reading Rewards Programs for kids. If your looking for a great way to keep your kids reading this summer check out these programs. thekeeledeal.com

Free Summer Reading Programs

Summer reading programs are a great way to keep kids reading and learning during the summer. Many summer reading programs have a rewards system so kids earn prizes for meeting reading goals.

We always love participating in summer reading rewards programs it helps us be sure to spend time reading during the summer. Plus the kids love getting prizes for reading.

Scholastic Summer Reading

The Scholastic summer reading program has grown and changed over the years. Currently, the program offers an online reading log, activities, and digital rewards to kids who keep a reading streak.

You can find the details about the reading program on the scholastic website. The program usually starts in May and goes into August.

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading Program for Kids

The Barns and Noble Summer reading program is for kids in grades 1 through 6. Print out the reading journal and then write down the books you read this summer and fill in the reading journal.

Once the journal is complete take the finished journal to your local Barnes and Noble store to get a free book (the new book is limited to select titles). Find out more about the program and get your printable reading journal here.

Pizza Hut Reading Program

What kid doesn’t love pizza? The pizza hut Camp Book It! reading program is one of my kid’s favorites. Parents of kids in preschool through sixth grade can enroll their children in the summer reading program.

Use the online tools to track and reward your children’s reading. Your child can earn a free one-topping personal pan pizza in June, July, and August for completing reading goals. Sign up for the pizza hut program here.

Books A Million Reading Adventure

The books a million reading program hasn’t been updated for this year yet. In past years the program involved reading any 4 books from the Summer Reading Adventure section and writing about them in your summer reading log.

After completing the reading log show the logbook at your local books a million store to get a prize. Check out the Books A Million Website for details. (this program hasn’t been updated for 2023 yet)

Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese has a number of Rewards Calendars you can use to help your kids with different things like doing chores or reading. Simply print off the rewards calendar you want and mark off the days with a pen or sticker when your child meets their goal.

Take the completed 2-week calendar to your local Chuck E. Cheese and get 10 free play points (which used to be free tokens). Playing with the play points kids can earn digital tickets and trade them in for fun prizes.

*You must make a food purchase to get the free play points.

Local Library

Don’t forget to check your public library to see if they have a summer reading rewards program!

Many libraries have reading programs for all ages including elementary, middle school, and high school students. Our library summer reading program has an awesome program with weekly rewards, many of which are to local businesses.

Plus don’t forget to ask your local librarian for a suggested reading list many libraries have grade-level book lists with multiple book titles to choose from.

Showcase Cinemas

Bookworm Wednesdays at Showcase Cinemas entitles kids to free admission to a select children’s film when they present a book report at a participating box office.

Accompanying parents or guardians and children under six years of age receive free admission and do not need to submit a book report.

H-E-B

The H-E-Buddy Reading Club is a free summer reading program for kids in Texas in elementary and middle schools ages 3-12. Kids read 10 books (one title must be a read 3 book listed on the website).

After reading each book kids must write it in a reading log along with an adult’s initials to get credit. Once the reading log is complete mail it in for a special prize. Get the reading log and details here.

Half Price Books

Half Price Books Summer Reading Camp is a free summer program where you get free downloads and printable booklists, crafts, activities, and coloring pages. Sign up for the program here.

Reading with the Rays

Reading with the Tampa Bay Rays Summer reading program will be updated for summer 2023 on May 21 check here for details.

Create a Summer Reading Rewards Program

There are several different ways you can create a summer reading rewards program for your kids. Just take a look at Pinterest if you need some inspiration.

A fast and easy way to create the program is using a printable summer reading rewards chart. Simply decide your prizes and add them into the chart and you’re ready to get started.

Start a Summer Reading Club

Get together with other parents in your area and create a summer reading club for your kids. The club could meet a couple of times during the summer to do book-based activities and let kids talk about their favorite book.

You could also offer a prize to reward kids that read a set number of pages or minutes during the summer. You could even have a prize for the kid with the most reading minutes if you want.

The best part about creating your own summer reading club is you can create fun book adventures for your children and their friends any way you want.

Reading Programs

These reading programs are for schools, homeschools or parents but aren’t specifically summer reading programs.

Splash Summit

The Splash Summit reading program is for kids in Utah elementary schools. To get a free waterpark admission kids must complete the required 500 minutes of reading.

This program usually starts in the early spring typically in March. Print the reader packet here.

iPlay America

iPlay America in New Jersey has a kid’s book club you can join. Kids read 5 books and get a free iRide Plus Pass. Forms and details about the program can be found here.

Braum’s

Braum’s Book Buddy reading incentive program is a free program for students in 1st through 5th grades located near a Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Store. There are store locations throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas.

The program starts in October and goes through the school year. Students can earn up to 6 ice cream treats per school year. Homeschool and public school groups can join the program, but only one representative for each school may apply (so not each individual classroom teacher can apply). Enroll in the program here.

Summer Reading programs

Schlitterbahn

Schlitterbahn Waves of pages reading program is a fun program to supplement the school-wide reading incentive program.

The program for students in kindergarten through 5th grade rewards students’ hard work with free waterpark admission for reading for 10 hours during the 10-week program.

Registration for this program opens in the fall so be sure to check the waves of pages webpage in August/September.

Roaring Springs

The Roaring Springs waterpark in Idaho has a fun Roaring Readers program for kids. Registration for the program is in December and is open to public schools and homeschools.

To get a free waterpark ticket students must complete the required minutes of recreational reading. Join the program here.

No Longer Continued Summer Reading Programs

These are summer reading rewards programs that haven’t been updated in a couple of years. I haven’t been able to find any recent information about them but it might still be worth looking into and contacting them if they are in your local area.

Six Flags Read to Succeed

Six Flags Read to Succeed is a program that encourages students in grades K through 6 to read for fun. Students who complete six hours of recreational reading earn a free ticket to Six Flags. The program is available to teachers and schools at no cost. It’s available for both traditional schools and homeschools.

Sadly I haven’t found any current information about the six flags read to succeed program. It looks like the program may have been discontinued.

Cap Com Federal Credit Union

Kids in grades Kindergarten through grade 12 can earn up to $10 ($2 per book) during the Fall, Winter, and Summer Programs ($30 per year).

Joining this reward program isn’t location-specific but you must have an active Youth Account. So this program will most likely work best for those local to the credit union in the New York area. Get all the details here.

The Cap Com Federal Credit Union website has been updated and I can no longer find details about this program. But it would be worth asking about it if you bank there.

Pottery Barn Kids 

Pottery Barn kid’s story time programs are run year-round and after attending 5 events you will get a special surprise. At our Pottery Barn after getting 5 stamps in your book, you get $10 off any item in the store.

I can’t find anything about the story time program since the event was stopped in 2020. Be sure to check the pottery barn kids website and social media posts to see if they start the program again. You could also ask about it at your local store.

Amazon Summer Reading Challenge

In the past the Amazon Summer Reading Challenge worked by having kids read 7 books and once completed they got a certificate and a National Geographic Kids book. I haven’t seen any updates on this program since 2021.

Create Your Own Reading Programs

Along with all of these fun reading rewards programs from different companies, you can also create your own reading rewards program for your kids to enjoy.

The best part about creating your own program is that you can set the requirements and the prizes. You could have prizes for a set number of books read, or your child could get a prize when a new reading milestone is reached.

One of my favorite ways to do a reading program is to set monthly reading goals and then at the end of the month, the kids get a prize, often an outing or adventure.

The best part of creating your own reading program is that it can be for any age, not just specific grade levels. Plus you can keep the reading program going all year long to give your kids a little motivation to spend time reading.

More Fun Ways To Keep Kids Learning This Summer

Summer reading programs are a great way to keep kids learning during the summer. A couple of other fun educational activities I like to do with my kids during the summer include:

ABC Mouse and Adventure Academy – these educational apps are perfect for making screen time educational. I personally love having these apps for my kids to play when we are traveling (road trip or flying).

50 States Unit Study – We are having a lot of fun learning about different states with worksheets, activities, crafts and food. You can see what we did for our study of Utah here.

Stack the States 2 – this is one of my kids favorite games to play on the iPad and it’s educational fun for the whole family.

More Posts You Might Enjoy:

101 Outdoor Summer Activities for Families
100 Ways to Make Memories with Your Kids
10 Fun Ways to Celebrate Read Across America

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