A taxi driver asked Deborah Farmer Kris, parent educator, teacher, and mom, during her ride, “What’s your best piece of parenting advice?”
Her straightforward reply was, “I read to my family.”
In this time of uncertainty and anxiety, reading together with your children has never been more critical to unify a family. Stories connect us, create a sense of normalcy and security, and help kids feel loved. Spending time reading a book as a family provides a consistent, safe place for respite and comfort.
Instituting a family storytime practice is one of the best ways to foster a child’s reading skills and to develop positive associations with books and reading. Stories open the door for conversations about important topics, ideas, people, and places. They also extend social-emotional development and help students learn about empathy, kindness, compassion, and respect for others.
Literacy skills in older students will improve by discussing narratives, character development, plot summaries, and other writing elements in books read together.
Tips for family storytimes
- Set aside time to read each day, reading aloud if possible.
- Start at an early age. Reading to babies helps build intimacy, vocabulary, and forms habits. A hint: if you read a story as part of the bedtime ritual from infancy, your child will make sure you follow the routine each night!
- Make read-alouds interactive to boost engagement.
- Read the pictures with younger children. Illustrations give visual clues that build vocabulary and add to your child’s emotional toolkit. Before reading a book aloud, “picture walk” through the pages. Look at characters, the setting, and ask your child to make predictions about what could happen. While reading, stop to look at characters’ expressions and body language, and ask, “How do you think she’s feeling right now?”
- Press the pause button. It can be tempting on some nights to rush to “lights out.” Wait occasionally before turning the page. Take time to look at a picture, ask a question, or share reactions. Help your child make connections between what they read and the world around them.
- Honor child preference: let them explore and choose the books to read-aloud.
- Use teachable moments with older students to discuss topics, ideas, or writing techniques (as developmentally appropriate).
- Consider other reading-together activities such as joining a family book group like the New-York Historical Society (NYHS) Reading into History Family Book Club (currently virtual). Or try a simplified home version of reader’s theater if you have spirited participants.
Enhance your family reading experience by exploring the online book resource site BookConnections with over 15,000 titles in the book readings collection.
Click on a book cover image to listen to an excerpt or listen to over 1,500 complete book readings.
Booklists for family storytimes
As we spend substantial time indoors at home now, family read-alouds can nurture reading development, strengthen bonds, and create memories to last a lifetime!
Sources
Jacobson, Linda. (2020, August 27). Family Bonding Over Books in Turbulent Times. News & Features. School Library Journal [professional publication]
Kamleiter, Kaitlyn. (2020, May 13). How to help your kids keep reading during stay-at-home order and distance learning. Children’s Minnesota [website blog]
Kris, Deborah Farmer. (2018, May 15). Why reading aloud to kids helps them thrive. PBS for Parents [blog]
Sharp, Colby. (2020, September 20). 5 reasons to read picture books to older readers. YouTube
Image from Pikwizard
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