Time and time again, research has shown that children who see their parents reading for pleasure and enjoying it are more likely to read for fun as well. This Valentine's Day, take some time to celebrate books that you and your children love.You'll be promoting reading for pleasure and you'll get a chance to really connect to your kids, too.
Sounds hard to set up? Nope! This is easy, and the rewards are huge. Here are the main ingredients to make it work:
1. Gather together all the books your children loved at different stages. If you have eager readers you may need to pare it down to only a handful. Try to track down one of your favorites from your childhood or a few books you loved reading to your children and add them to the pile.
2. Grab a sheet or two of paper and pop it on a clip board with a pencil ready.
3. Treats. Every celebration needs treats and I think that gummy "book" worms are perfect. If you are trying to avoid food dye there are a bunch of natural gummy worms on the market or you could make these natural heart gummies using fruit juice for color.
4. Make a reading nest. This could be on your bed, on a couch, or even in a blanket fort. Bonus points for heart pillows.
5. Take turns reading your favorite books or passages from the books to each other while having a treat or two for sustenance, if desired.
6. Ask your kids to name their favorite books and write them down using your pencil and paper. This simple step packs a huge punch. Children will see in black and white how much they love to read. Even if the list is short, it will be filled with wonderful memories of great books and positive experiences.
Promoting reading isn't only about reading the next challenge book. Sometimes it's about reminiscing and focusing on what we love about books from our past. This Valentine's Day, take some time to encourage your children to celebrate the books they love.
Do you have a favorite book? Have you shared it with your children? Tell us about it on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page.
Celebrate Your Child's Most-Loved Books
Discover simple steps for sharing your love of reading with your children for Valentine&s Day.
