The holidays are here, and with all the festivities and family time, it’s a perfect opportunity to unwrap the magic of books with your children. Books make great gifts, but there are also fun ways to mix reading into some of your beloved seasonal traditions or create brand-new ones. From opening a new book every night as part of a holiday countdown to learning about new holiday traditions worldwide, there are countless ways to make reading a joyful part of your celebrations.
Create Seasonal Reading Rituals
No matter what holidays you celebrate, you can use books to build excitement up to the big day. Create a holiday book countdown or book advent calendar where your children get to unwrap a new book for each day. You can choose as many days as you want and opt for easy, fun picture books. Read the stories together each night, giving everyone a page to read out loud. Create a holiday book stack by collecting the seasonal books in your collection and piling them in the living room. Not only will it be a unique decoration and keep books front and center, but it will also encourage your family to open them up. Add a new book each year to make it into an anticipated family tradition. You can even include stories about festive traditions and holidays from all over the world to teach them how other cultures celebrate.
Paperback Presents
When your children are creating their wish lists, encourage them to include books. You can use the “want, need, wear, read” technique to help guide them and make your holiday shopping easier. Ask them to select one item for each category that they would like. This will give them an active role in the home library and help them learn about wants versus needs. When family and friends ask what to get your children, point them to age-appropriate stories.
A love of reading is one of the best gifts we can share with our little ones. The holiday season is a wonderful time to make books part of your most beloved celebrations. If you want to give your child the gift of reading and writing confidence, contact The Reading Ranch to learn more about our programs.
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