With summer vacation around the corner and more free time for kids, I thought I would share what my kids (ages 5 and 7) are currently reading, watching, listening and playing!

There are no places to purchase any type of media locally, but we take advantage of technology subscribing to online services like Amazon, Spotify, and Netflix. We use Amazon Freetime (unlimited kids’ subscription service with age appropriate books, movies, tv shows, and apps for $2.99/month), Kindle Unlimited (borrow up to 10 books/audiobooks at a time for $9.99/month), and we regularly purchase Kindle books. While we do read regular books daily and the kids still love being read to, they also have their own Kindles which has really increased the amount of time they spend reading independently each day!

R E A D I N G

Both kids are huge fans of the graphic novel genre, and they both loved Dog Man equally, rereading it over and over again. Two more books are scheduled for release later this year and they can’t wait!

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W A T C H I N G

Kubo and the Two Strings – This beautifully animated movie set in feudal Japan tells the story of a one-eyed boy named Kubo who plays a magical two-string shamisen that lets him fly and bring origami figures to life. The story is a bit complicated and sad, but my kids were immediately taken with it and have already viewed it multiple times. Adults are just as sure to enjoy this critically acclaimed stop motion film that has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was nominated for several Oscars. It can currently be streamed on Netflix.

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Recently I was browsing Netflix for a noncartoon kids’ movie and came across Spy Kids. Both my kids adored it and watched Spy Kids 2 the following day. They’re both fun movies with kid protagonists and can currently be streamed on Netflix.

spy kids

L I S T E N I N G

We subscribe to Spotify’s premium service and it’s been great for the kids. Of course we listen to lots of Disney soundtracks, but lately I’ve been playing soothing classical music at bedtime instead of white noise and it helps my bedtime fighting son fall asleep faster!

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P L A Y I N G

Still obsessed with Minecraft. They are only allowed to play on the weekends, but could easily play all day every day if we let them. Charlie has devoured dozens of Minecraft fan fiction books available in Kindle Unlimited, and we’ve purchased every Minecraft book available whenever we’re in country capital! Get books on whatever your child is obsessed with and they are sure to become voracious readers!

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What are your kids currently reading, watching, listening and playing?