Books, books, books! I won’t name names, but a couple of my kids would rather spend hours watching TV than stick their noses in a book. That’s why I’ve had to learn to be creative when it comes to getting them to read more and spend less time on electronics, and let me tell you… these tiips have worked wonders! Read on to learn how you can enjoy a season of MORE reading with your crew!
- Set up a points system for reading. My children have so much fun earning prizes, and what better way to do it than by encouraging them to read more? Here’s how it works: the more books / hours they read, the more tickets they accumulate. In the past, I’ve printed out little tickets that I hand out at the end of the day. Eventually, your kids can use their tickets to redeem certain prizes, such as stuffed animals or a new toy.
- Host a book club. “But Mom, I don’t want to read!” Books clubs can be the bomb dot com! Do this with family or friends around the same reading level as your children. There are many study guides online to choose from, or you can create your own guide with fun activities. Our local libraries also host book clubs (these are more geared towards pre-teens and teens), so signing up for one of these is an option as well. Book clubs are a great way for kids to discuss what they’ve read with their peers and to gain more insight.
- Read nighttime stories. You might already do bedtime stories, but it was so worth adding to our list. Your older kids might think they’ve grown out of being read to by their parents, but it’s all about finding the right books. My teens still enjoy read-alouds, and when I’m intentionally reading to their younger siblings, oftentimes they’ll hang around and tune in.
- Put together some interactive book time / activities. In our home, we’ve paired books with so many fun things – recipes, parties, stained glass Jello, crafts, and more! For instance, when we read Caddie Woodlawn, we all indulged in a homemade chicken fricassee for the first time.
- Read a book to watch the movie. Books are so much more enjoyable when kids are looking forward to watching the film adaptation. While finishing novels are a reward in themselves, making a point to see the movie based on the book is inspiring. Your children might love seeing how the chapter book they just imagined is portrayed on a screen. Books we’ve read and watched are Charlotte’s Web, Little Women, and others. Be advised that film adaptations aren’t just limited to chapter books. We really enjoyed “The Snowy Day” film adaptation with a Boys II Men soundtrack to boot!
- Strewn books. I didn’t even know what this was until I started homeschooling and doing research about getting my children to read. To strewn books is to lay them out around the house for your kids to eventually pick up during the course of their day. As someone who has tried this out for years, I can attest that this method is effective!
- Listen to audiobooks. Seriously, you don’t have to be reading the text in order for it to count. Delving into a good story could also mean listening to the audiobook. This is not my preferred way for kids to listen to books, but it’s a great supplement to true reading, as it helps your child build listening and focusing skills, it exposes your child to different narrators, and even helps to enhance your child’s vocabulary. Listening to a book is a perfect activity to pair with road trips or handicrafts. In the past, my kids have enjoyed listening to a book while finger-knitting or painting.
- Take a trip to the library. There’s something irresistible about being surrounding by rows and rows of books with colorful, interesting covers. Your child is likely to be more eager to read when you make Library Day a routine part of your week, let him pick out his own books, and top off the visit with a snack from the vending machine.
- Set up a special reading environment. Don’t have a reading nook at home? You can easily create one. Quiet time with books is something to look forward to when it’s under a carefully crafted tent with a lantern and stuffed animals nearby. Make reading time a WHOLE vibe with classical music playing, and fluffy pillows and blankets at the ready.
- Host a poetry tea time. If your child is giving you the blues about reading books, maybe he just doesn’t have the right KIND of books. Have you tried graphic novels? Joke books? Poetry books? Magazines? When I was younger, I most definitely preferred reading books of poems (some nonsense poems, some serious poems) more than anything else. Introduce your child to various types of literature. Poetry books pair well with a Poetry Tea Time event where family members take turns standing up and reading a poem from a book or reciting one from memory. This type of ritual could install a true love of poetry into your little one, and it’s sure to create special memories.
