Be a reading family. Establish a reading family practice to bring the magic of literacy into the lives of those you love. Reading is not only an essential skill, but enhances the life experience from childhood onwards. Treat reading with respect and teach children the value of books. Both have the potential to become prized personal attributes.
Let’s take a look at areas of family life in which to establish a reading family practice. Begin today, by inviting the joy of reading into your family culture.
Family Library
Creating a family library can be as simple as a bookshelf in the kitchen. Or. it can be as grand as floor to ceiling collections filling a room. The magic of a family library is not its size, but each book’s unique journey to your bookshelf.
As you establish a reading family practice, consider the following ideas for welcoming books into your family library:
- gifts: birthdays, holidays (a book in an Easter basket) or Christmas (Something to wear, something to read, something you want, something you need)
- souvenirs: a picture book from a trip to my grandmother’s house in Idaho was a childhood treasure to me and still a treasured memory
- to mark a significant day or event in a child’s life: performance, achievement, religious ceremony
- to prepare for and initiate conversation about a new, worrying or challenging change in a child’s life: new baby, starting kindergarten, loss, moving
- vacations: choose a new book or series to pack on a road trip or as a surprise in a child’s carry-on (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl will always remind me of our Starcraft camping trailer.)
Golden Days at Home Preschool Curriculum
For a young family, one of the most effective efforts to establish a reading family practice is by incorporating the Golden Days at Home preschool curriculum into family life. Golden Days at Home is a collection of 48 full week early childhood lesson plans to teach at home. Each preschool lesson plan is based on a Caldecott award-winning picture book. With parent as teacher, quality picture books are brought to life through story time, lessons, activities, recipes and so much more.
A copy of the featured picture book is needed to read aloud and refer to throughout the week’s corresponding lesson plan. Families collect or make a Wish List for book gifts to complete the Golden Days at Home Preschool library. By the end of the preschool year, a classic family library collection is created featuring magnificent children’s books to enjoy for years to come.
Be an Example
If your children see you reading, they will most likely become readers themselves. Young children are copiers and learn about life by copying you! Be the example of a reader and teach them reading is a good thing to do in life. As a before bed reader, I realized my children weren’t seeing me read nor enjoying books as much as I do. I made a conscious effort to have my books available to me during the day amongst the hustle and bustle of family life.
Establish a reading family practice by sharing books you loved as a child. Do you both share similar interests? Books are a connecting force for parents and children. Share what you are learning and interesting anecdotes from a book you are reading. This naturally introduces your child to different genres: biographies, fiction, non-fiction, mystery, fantasy, the ever-important fairy tales, etc.
A friend of mine is an inspiring example of the joy of reading. While immersed in a book I borrowed from her, I came across what looked like chocolate smears on some pages. Chapters later, I found a flattened chocolate bar wrapper. I questioned her about it and she smiled. Apparently, when opening a new book, she also unwraps a favorite chocolate bar. The first few pages are savored to the fullest. Then, the empty wrapper is used as a bookmark. What a fun treat of an idea to share with your children (or enjoy yourself) to celebrate the joy of reading.
Family Routine
Plenty of opportunities exist in family life to nurture and establish a reading family practice. Create reading snugs around the house and garden; comfortable, cozy spaces, perfect for settling in and passing the time with a good book. Bedroom sanctuaries are a great place to start. Does each family member have a bedside table with a reading lamp? Check. Are books available on a whim? Check. Is it a welcoming and relaxing space? Note to self: needs improvement.
Bedtime stories are a right of childhood. This comforting routine with mom or dad, reading at the end of each evening’s children’s hour, holds more precious power than one may ever know. Stories invite magic and connection. To a child, this reliable routine, with a book at its heart, embodies the nurturing message of love and security.
Keep story time going as long as your growing children will allow. Read aloud classic, timeless book series to fill years of this special time together. Make it a habit to read the book together before seeing the movie. Expand a story’s experience by cooking, wearing, making crafts inspired by the setting or characters. Refer to snippets of the book in conversations together nurturing your shared experience.
Illördag
Invite the Swedish practice of illördag as you establish a reading family practice. Illördag, or “little Saturday,” is a mini mid-week celebration. Change your family routine to make Wednesday evenings a fun, family reading night. A special splurge in the middle of the week!
For illördag, gather together and read aloud a chapter book. Or, serve a carpet picnic/casual dinner while each family reads their own book of choice. We’ve been practicing illördag for a few months now and Wednesdays have become a favorite day of the week! Illördag has brought a bright, almost exciting pleasure to our otherwise predictable work week.
Public Libraries
For a family desiring to establish a reading family practice, public libraries are a treasure trove. My mother is a voracious reader and did a wonderful job sharing excursions to the public library with her six children. From preschool story time on through summer reading programs, I came to feel and understand the library to be an intriguing, comfortable place to wander, explore and discover.
Our elementary school library supported the same feeling. I looked forward to our class’ turn to visit and exchanging last week’s chapter book. I found the atmosphere inspiring and stood in awe of the librarian. The shelves of horse books and mysteries assured a never-ending supply. This library attraction continued through my college years especially when I needed a quiet space to study and be alone with my thoughts. My penchant for libraries continues to this day. (Thanks, mom.)
When I became a mother and to satisfy the challenge of long, summer afternoons, I would often drop our eldest, middle school, book-hungry daughter at the local library. She found contentment amongst towering bookshelves in a quiet environment to think, ponder and gather information. A couple hours later, I would pick up an excited, satisfied daughter with arms full of possibilities in her new book finds. Discover the offerings at your town’s public library as you establish a reading family practice.
Choice and Support
Our youngest child was born into a reading family. The books in our library were firm friends on the shelves. I did however, mistakenly assume she would be attracted to the childhood classics her brothers and sisters (and mom) were drawn to: Little House on the Prairie Series, Chronicles of Narnia, The Boxcar Children, Enid Blyton books, The Wind in the Willows, etc. But, none of these stories caught her fancy. I was feeling at a loss for suggestions and even contacted her school teacher for suggestions.
Through trial and error, she and I discovered her interest in new and trendy books. She enjoyed reading about girls, just like her, living in the same time and place. She loved the dialogue, mannerisms, wardrobe descriptions and popular pastimes. Unfamiliar with this genre, but with a strong desire for my daughter to enjoy reading, I kept an open mind and let her lead the way.
I am so grateful my young daughter listened to her heart instead of just following the book choices of others (which certainly would have been easier for her, and for me.) Not until discovering popular young adult fiction did she experience the spark and personal enlightenment reading gifts. Contemporary culture continues to be a deep interest for her. At university, she chose to study advertising and is now a successful copywriter for a number of trendy brands. I must also add that she too has kept an open mind and is now discovering classics and enjoying historical fiction.
Reading books is a very personal experience. It enables one to set sail on a voyage of self-discovery. When you establish a reading family practice, you open doors of vast opportunity for your child. Discovering new ideas, adventures, information, people and places influences their life experience. Reading forever enlightens, entertains and ignites the imagination.
Be a reading family. Consider the suggestions above and establish a reading family practice for your loved ones. Be open to other reading opportunities that work for your family, as well. As a parent, developing a healthy respect for books and reading is to enhance your child’s experience through all the chapters of their life.
Written by Janet Nicole Meyer for Golden Days at Home.
Parents, supporting your efforts to instill a love of books in your child, we have created charming children’s bookplates. Your child can place their very own bookplate in favorite books, complete with their name. Personal bookplates give children a sense of pride and ownership!
Download, print and cut as many bookplates as you would like.
To attach to books: use glue, double-sided sticky tape or print out bookplates on full page print labels.
