Reading at Home Tips

Create a positive environment and perhaps a routine for reading so that children look forward to it. You don’t have to read, you get to read!

• Check out all types of books. Books of all lengths, genres and topics are beneficial for growing reading skills and expanding the mind! Children benefit from reading what they love and exploring variety. Picture books and graphic novels are great choice for all children. Wordless books stimulate the imagination of all ages, and poetry is an often over-looked genre that can be lots of fun.

• Encourage your children to bring books on car rides, even short ones. Kids can pack in a lot of reading simply by cracking open a book each time they ride in the car. Reading a few pages at a time adds up! And of course, if you’re traveling a long distance, books can help pass the time in a productive (and peaceful!) way.

• Read aloud. Enjoy quality time with your child while being a reading model. Reading aloud naturally opens the door to talking with your child about topics and ideas that may not normally come up. To prompt discussion, you can ask your child open-ended questions such as, “What do you think about the story?” or “What would you have done if you were that character?” Read aloud is beneficial for all ages, not just the youngest children. It targets audio learners and it improves vocabulary, comprehension, and information processing skills.

• Share the load. Shared reading is simply taking turns. You read a page or a chapter aloud and then your child reads the next page or chapter aloud. This is a great way to encourage new or reluctant readers. If you have older children, you can set a timer (or not) and read silently side-by-side.

• Try audio books. Audio books are fantastic for car rides, but they can also be a great addition to afternoon quiet time or bedtime. They are a great way for the entire family to enjoy a story together or for an individual to spend time alone. You can download them onto your device through the public library.

• Watch the movie. After reading a book, watching the movie can be a fun treat. It can also spark conversation about similarities and differences between the two.

• Last but not least, take advantage of the public library. Even when the library is closed, you can check out ebooks and audiobooks on your devices via several apps.

• Read to your dog or cat, or just cuddle with them while you read.

Most importantly, have fun enjoying books as a family- it makes for great bonding time and it is one of life’s greatest joys!