How To Read More with Kids

The other day, I was chatting with some parents about a wildly popular summer reading game in our hometown. With two English teachers for parents, our kids are also big readers, and we happily use the summer to consume as many books as possible. However, some of the other parents mentioned how difficult it was to fit in reading, even when days are more available for it over vacation. It got me thinking about what little changes families can easily make to read more with kids. Here's what works for our family.

Listen to audio books in the car
We listen to stories on errands around town, during car rides to Grandma and Grandpa's house that's 40 minutes away, and on road trips. This summer we've been into the Ramona series, and we're going to bring Harry Potter and other titles by Beverly Cleary on a long road trip we're taking. We find audiobooks for free from two sources -- our local library (our car has a CD player) and digital checkouts from Libby. These are some of our other favorite audio books if you're looking for good titles for elementary-aged kids.

Go on an author binge
When you find a book you like, check out other titles from the same author. Chances are you’ll enjoy the others just as much, and you’ll now have a nice line to follow for several future checkouts. For instance, we’ve been listening to Ramona Quimby books for the last several months, and as we near the end, we’ve branched out to Ralph the Mouse and Dear Mr. Henshaw. Having these titles lined up helps ease the disappointment of ending a series with a beloved character and will hopefully lead to other characters you’ll fall in love with.

Read along with the kids
Whether reading out loud to kids, listening to the same audio book, or having family reading time where everyone reads her/his own book, make reading a social event. Pause and talk about predictions, ask and discuss curious questions, or talk about whatever you're interested in.

Foster a culture of reading
In addition to reading with your kids and modeling that behavior, show your kids that reading is fun, not a punishment. Make bedtime reading the most cozy, wonderful part of your kids' day. Always have a book on you for appointments, lessons, and other times when waiting is required. Participate in summer reading games through your local library and book stores. Fill your home with books. Make frequent trips to your library. Host a kid book club. Ask friends for recommendations and arrange to trade books or give hand-me-down books once a child has outgrown a series. In short, show your kids that reading is a wonderful pleasure to indulge in, not a chore to be checked off a list.

What about you? What do you do to read more with your kids?