For many families, the ability to experience new places is not always possible. Whether it’s due to travel restrictions, work or school commitments, or a matter of budgeting, having a few tricks up your sleeve to “escape” while still at home is a good idea.
Kelly Matthews, a 4th-grade teacher in Colorado, says books are the perfect alternative for exploring different places and worlds. “When you have a chance to delve into a different world using literature, you develop more empathy and understanding,” she says.
Here are three tips to help your child discover new worlds from home through books.
1. “Travel” as a Family
Matthews says exploring books as a family will naturally help your child become more enthusiastic.
“Showing interest in the books your child is reading helps them feel comfortable to ask questions about where or when books take place,” she says. “Discuss the location or setting and your interpretations, comparing and contrasting your point of views.”
Patrick Mongeau, a 2nd-grade teacher in Massachusetts, says asking simple questions can increase comprehension while allowing your child to express their original ideas and thoughts.
“Where are they? can elicit a response that shows understanding or misunderstanding. How is that different or similar to your world? can really push their thinking. Keep mum until you hear their ideas and take them with an open mind,” he says.