With summer here, I always find myself looking for something — anything — that will keep my kids reading without it turning into a daily struggle. So I made these Summer Reading Bingo cards for my own kids and they have been such a fun (and easy!) way to keep everyone motivated.

If you have a little reader, or even a reader in the making, this is a simple way to keep books part of your summer without a fight!

How the Summer Reading BINGO Challenge Works

It’s really simple to set up:

1. Set a reading goal for each child

   This can be as easy as a certain number of minutes a day or books each week—whatever works best for your family.

2. Pick a prize (or a few!)

   This doesn’t have to be anything big. Some ideas: ice cream, a small toy, a trip to the water park, a special outing. Just make sure it’s something your kids will actually be excited to earn! A few ideas:

• Ice cream
• A small toy
• A trip to the water park
• A special outing

3. Start reading

   As your child reads, they get to cross off squares on their bingo board. This is where it starts to feel like a game instead of a chore!

4. Celebrate progress

   You can do a small prize for getting BINGO (5 across or down) and a bigger prize for completing the whole board. Or keep it simple — whatever works best for your family.

• A small prize for getting BINGO (5 across or down)
• A bigger prize for completing the whole board

5. Celebrate your little reader

   This might be my favorite part. A little excitement goes a long way in building that love of reading.

Easy Prize Ideas for Summer Reading Bingo

Not sure what to use for rewards? Keep it simple. These don’t have to be big to work — they just have to be something your kids actually care about!

Some easy ideas we’ve used:

• Ice cream trip 
• Pick the movie for family movie night 
• Stay up 30 minutes later
• A small toy or book
• Trip to the park or splash pad
• Choose dinner for the night

For bigger rewards (like finishing the whole board):

• Water park day
• Sleepover
• One-on-one “date” with mom or dad

👉 The key is picking something your kids actually care about.

Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Reading Bingo

What is summer reading bingo? Summer reading bingo is a fun reading challenge where kids cross off squares on a bingo board as they complete different reading activities or finish books. It turns reading into a game, which makes kids so much more likely to stick with it all summer!

What age is summer reading bingo best for? It works for a wide range — from pre-readers all the way through middle school. You just adjust the expectations (and the prize!) based on age.

How do you keep kids motivated to read in the summer? Turning reading into a game makes a huge difference. Kids are much more likely to stick with it when there’s something fun (and a reward!) tied to it.

How long should kids read each day in the summer? A good starting point: younger kids aim for 10 to 15 minutes, elementary readers 20 to 30 minutes, and older kids 30 minutes or more. But honestly? Any reading is a win in the summer!

What if my child doesn’t like reading? This is exactly where bingo helps. It shifts the focus from “you have to read” to “let’s complete the board,” which makes the whole thing feel way more like a game and way less like a chore.

Do I need to print a new bingo card for each child? Yes! Print one for each child so they each have their own board to track. Having their own card makes it feel more special — and the sibling competition doesn’t hurt either!

For more summer activities, check out the following posts:

Ultimate Boredom Busters

Before You Go…

If you’re trying to keep your kids busy and make summer a little smoother, this reading bingo pairs really well with a simple routine.

You can mix and match a few things:

• A basic summer schedule
• A reading challenge like this
• A handful of go-to activities for bored moments

Nothing complicated…just enough structure to make your days easier.

And if you want to save this for later, go ahead and pin it or bookmark it… because summer boredom always sneaks up eventually