Summer is a great time for kids. The school holidays bring sun, fun and loads of great activities.
On the flipside, they can also bring about a slump in reading as kids backslide in their reading levels, often starting the next school year at a lower level than when they'd left school before the holidays started.
Auckland Libraries' summer reading programme, Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore offers fun activities and challenges that support our tamariki (children) in sustaining their reading levels throughout the holidays.
Register online at daretoexplore.nz then visit your local library from December 9 to pick up the free Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore activity booklet to take part.
"All of the children who participated in Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore ... maintained their reading levels over the summer," says Lincoln Heights School librarian Trena Lile.
"We were really lucky to find out that a lot of our children had actually improved their reading levels."
Normally, the programme would be through one of the Auckland Council Libraries, but Trena has been running the Dare to Explore programme within Lincoln Heights School for two years now. She's about to embark on the school's third year.
"It's an hour's walk to our public library from here and for the kids that don't have transport, that's just too hard," says Trena.
The school library is open one day a week for the length of the programme and is expanding further, with another four schools opening their libraries over the summer break.
The kids love the programme too.
"My favourite part was the booklet because there were lots of fun activities in it," says Norah Auua'a, one of the 66 children who enjoyed Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore at Lincoln Heights School last summer.
Her sister, Nasareta, says that she really enjoyed getting to read books as a part of the programme, "Every night, before I went to bed, I always got all of the books and I read like two or three of them. . . sometimes my mum and dad would come lie with me for a bit and help me."
This summer, tamariki will be able to go on an adventure through the past, present and future with the friendly characters in the Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore booklet, stimulating their imaginations and learning.
Whether they follow the dinosaur footsteps on the reading trail, build a telescope out of recyclable material or take time finding characters in our character find, every activity will be a fun-filled adventure.
"I really enjoyed Dare to Explore, so i recommend that you do it this year," says year three student Payton Johnston.
Sign up today
Whether you're at home or on holiday, don't miss out! Register online at daretoexplore.nz.
Once signed up, visit your local library from December 9 to pick up the free Kia Māia te Whai Dare to Explore activity booklet, while stocks last.
