6 Ways to Start Reading at Home with Your Kids (Grade PreK–5)
Recent assessment data compiled by The University of Oregon shows that only half of kindergarteners through second grade students are on track in reading, and another three in ten students are behind. While some of these statistics can be attributed to pandemic learning loss, educators across the country are beginning to implement new strategies to support students in the classroom. But literacy skills aren’t just learned at school. Reading at home can boost literacy acquisition and provide background knowledge that solidifies a strong foundation for future learning.
Studies show that reading to children has benefits beyond assessment data and school performance, though. Regularly reading to your child can help them build a wider vocabulary, learn about the world, and develop emotional awareness and empathy, allowing them to learn how to handle challenging emotions and situations. It also provides an opportunity for parents to connect with their children. But for busy parents, the idea of starting a reading routine at home can feel overwhelming. Parents wonder how to get started, what books they should be reading, and how long is long enough?
Reading at home doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, simpler is better — not just for you, but for your kids too. Here are six tips to help you start reading at home with your children.
6 Ways to Start Reading at Home with Your Child
1. Create a Reading-Friendly Environment
Children are naturally inquisitive. When something new is placed in their environment, they want to explore. The best tip for incorporating a reading routine at home is to create an environment that encourages reading.
Find a small corner of the room, perhaps a nook behind the couch or in the kitchen, and turn it into a reading corner. Include a cozy blanket, soft pillows, and a small bookshelf (affiliate link). And then stock it with age-appropriate reading materials.
Don’t have free space in your home? Keep a few age-appropriate books scattered throughout the house. Leave a few board books or graphic novels on end tables or coffee tables in the living room, or hang a narrow shelf in your child’s bedroom to showcase a few books.
2. Set Daily Reading Routines and Activities
- Breakfast Letter Hunt: As your child eats breakfast, ask them to find specific letters on the box of cereal or yogurt container.
- Word Games in the Car: Think games like, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m going to bring…” Each person names something starting with the next letter of the alphabet and repeats every item that was said before their turn. For example, if their letter is “C,” on their turn, they would say “I am going on a picnic, and I am going to bring an apple, a banana, and a cookie!”
- Dinnertime Question-of-the-Day: Buy a pack of large popsicle sticks (affiliate link) and write a fun question to ask your kids on each one. Have your child select a popsicle stick and read the question, then everyone answers.
- Bedtime Story: Take five or ten minutes at bedtime to read your child a story. This is a perfect way to settle your child in for a restful night of sleep, and to incorporate more reading. Have older kids? Select a chapter book that you can read together over the course of a few weeks.
3. Get a Library Card and Plan a Visit
Most public libraries give free library cards to children with an adult present. Check the requirements on the website of your local library and plan a visit. Once you help your child get their first library card, spend some time browsing the shelves. Librarians can guide you toward the age-appropriate books, and help your child select a book that interests them.
Libraries also often have free activities for children such as a book club for kids to share their reflection on a monthly book.
4. Foster Family Reading Time
Schedule a regular reading time for the entire family, even if it is just 10-15 minutes before dinner is ready once per week. When your child sees you engaging in reading, they are more apt to pick up a book themselves. While there are digital libraries and apps that you can take advantage of (like Many Books or Libby), be sure to balance these out with physical books, as younger readers need exposure to gain concepts of print skills. There’s also just something a bit more magical about reading a real book cover to cover than clicking through pages on a mobile device. In the end, it doesn’t matter what you are reading — just that you are reading.
Likewise, for your children, let them choose what they want to read. Do they prefer graphic novels? Great. Let this time be for them to choose exactly what they want to read, rather than something that has been assigned. The more you can incorporate choice, the more likely your child will want to read. This is especially important for an older child when instilling a new reading habit.
5. Consider Transition Times
Still feeling overwhelmed by the lack of time you might have for this? Consider the in-between times: transitions between activities in the car, waiting in line at the grocery store, or in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. When you have time to kill, consider it time to read.
Keep books in the car and a couple in your bag. Rather than taking out a device and playing a game, read with your child. It will pass the time while also building a new habit and strengthening your relationship.
6. Get a Magazine Subscription
There are amazing magazines available for children of all ages. Consider what your child is interested in and find a magazine related to those topics. Some of the most popular titles include National Geographic Kids, Sports Illustrated Kids, and Highlights (which now offers a variety of magazines for different age groups). You can also check out Discount Mags for their teen magazine catalog, reflecting a wide range of interests and languages at lower prices. If you’re concerned about cost, magazine subscriptions make a great gift from a loving grandparent or relative to gift to your child for birthdays or holidays.
The magazine is here, now what? It’s pretty thrilling when something personal and interesting arrives in the mail, so make magazine arrival days a big deal. Set out the publication on the coffee table when it arrives and dive into it together. Make connections to what your child is learning in school — maybe you’ll find an article that relates to a recent science lesson or words that have appeared in recent vocabulary or spelling lists. Magazines provide numerous opportunities to discuss different genres, ranging from fiction, nonfiction, how-tos, biographies, poetry, and more. As the magazine pile grows, you can hang onto them for arts and crafts or even donate them to your child’s classroom.
Reading at home with your child can take many forms — it doesn’t always have to be a book or in a designated space. When you set up your child’s environment to include books and other reading materials, they will naturally be intrigued. Encourage older kids to read by incorporating their interests and letting them choose.
When you are starting a new routine, it is important to keep it as simple as possible. Start small and build onto the routine gradually, especially with older kids. If you have younger children at home, make reading part of their every day with simple games and reading during waiting times. Keep books handy and provide ample opportunities for your child to sit with a book or play a word game together!
Stay connected with Ed2Grow for more valuable insights and resources to help you navigate the joys and challenges of helping kids learn.
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