Prevent 'Summer Brain Drain' With Reading Games

It's the last week of school and assigned homework is done for the year. Are you looking for ways to avoid "summer brain drain" in your house?

One way to keep kids' brains engaged is through summer reading games, launching in local libraries this week. Kids set goals for the number of books they want to read and visit libraries weekly all summer long to win prizes for meeting their goals.

"One World, Many Stories" is the New York State Library's summer reading game theme, and local branches have adopted it and incorporated it into their games that are underway or launching soon. Spokesman "Secret Agent 23 Skidoo,"an MC and “beatsmith” from Asheville, NC explains to children that through books, "you can learn about the whole world and know more—from Chinese dragons to African folklore."

Each library is signing up readers this week for summer programs for both younger children to read with their parents and for older independent readers.

Bedford Free Library:

Younger children age five through 5th grade are given raffle tickets for every two hours of reading. Winners for raffle prizes donated by local merchants are drawn at the end of the summer. The game ends with an international food festival and games on Tuesday, August 9.

The Young Adult Kickoff is , and children will be playing a global jeopardy game. YA is from grade 6-12 and they are given points—redeemable for Borders gift cards at the end of the summer—for the total pages they read. This year the library is offering online participation in both reading games so readers can track their progress even while traveling on vacation. Click here for more information on their programs.

Bedford Hills Free Library

Participants will receive a Many Stories Reading Folder and special gifts when signing up. For each book completed, readers receive a sticker to put on the library's "Many Stories" poster. After three visits, the prizes start and the more they read, the more they'll get to pick out from the library's book treasure chest. At the end of the summer, all participants receive a goody bag, a reading certificate, and are invited to celebrate at a the summer end party. For more information on the game, and other summer porgrams such as the Wacky Wednesday program, click here.

Katonah Village Library

Two games runs June 27 – August 13. The game for independent readers has kids set a goal of the number of books to read over the summer. Kids visit the library weekly to complete a challenge and to enter the raffle for prizes. The "Family Read Together Club" is for pre-readers and their parents. They are encouraged to read together for 15 minutes each day and come in once a week for a sticker and raffle ticket.

The game kicks off this Thursday June 23 at an event with "Magic Jim," for ages 5 and up. It starts at 3 p.m. and tickets can be picked up in the Children's Room this week. The library follows this up with a Fairy Tale Party for ages 3-5 on June 29 at 1:30 p.m. Sign ups are required. For more information on their summer programs click here.

Lewisboro Library

Their game kicks off Monday, June 27 and ends Friday, August 12. Signups are online or in-person. Reading game participants will receive a prize for every three books they read, and are eligible for weekly drawings for T-shirts. Their launch party is scheduled for Monday June 27 at 3 p.m., where kids in kindergarten through fifth grade can have ice cream sundaes and play lawn games popular in other countries, says the library's website. Visit them online to find out more on their game and summer programs such as its book blast book group.