It’s that time of year again. The kids are out of school for the summer and it’s time to find things for them to do to keep them busy and their brains working. If you live in Oregon go check out your local library and join them in Make a Splash and Read. Each summer Make a Splash and read is organized by the Oregon Library Association and The Oregon State Library. It’s a great reading program for kids of all ages so if your little one isn’t quite reading on their own yet, that’s not a problem. Along with the reading are new arts and crafts and activities every week that you can sign up for or just show up. The best part is that it is all 100% free and goes all summer long.

When you go down to your library and sign up you a bookmark, a temporary tattoo and you are also given an entry form to win $1,000 Oregon College Savings Plan Account. Plus you and your little ones will each get a plastic library drawstring bag to carry your books in and you can get to picking and checking them out right away.

The rules for the Make a Splash and Read program are very simple. For every 15 minutes of reading you and the kids do together, they get one sticker to put on their reading log (this is also included in your book bag). Make sure that you put your initials next to each sticker to “validate” them. Then bring your reading log back in to your library. The kids get prizes after 8, 20 and 40 stickers. Once they have reached 64 stickers (16 hours of reading) they have completed the Make a Splash and Read program.  Prizes from our local library for completing include 1 free book, a ticket to a Portland Trailblazer game and our name put into a hat for the grand prize raffle drawing. Our grand prize is a family pass to OMSI for a full year and all just for reading with your kids.

We do the reading program every summer and have so much fun with it. It is really great to have things to do during the summer that are fun, creative, and free. Plus it’s in a safe environment. Not to mention our library is right next door to the biggest park in town so we get to enjoy lunch in the park afterwards too.