Aside from story time with your littlest readers, it’s easy to forget to make time for family reading in a digital-first age. But Read Across America Day, celebrated annually on March 2, is a great way to encourage taking the time to enjoy a good book. Observed on Dr. Seuss’s birthday and also known as “Dr. Seuss Day,” reminding your kids about the power of imagination and escaping with great stories can instill a lifetime love of reading. Here are five ways to celebrate.
1. Read To Your Kids
Even if your kids know how to read and do it at school, continuing the habit at home plays an important part in their growth and development. Talking about characters and events in books—and starting books together that are too long or challenging for them to finish solo—can be enjoyable for both of you. Don’t interrupt your kids to correct mistakes that don’t change the meaning of the story. Encourage them to predict what happens next, which also helps them develop critical thinking skills.
2. Donate Books Your Kids Have Outgrown
Make room on your family’s bookshelf or in your child’s home library for new stories by donating old ones to your local library, schools or charities. Not sure how to start sorting through good reads? Remember that kids age out of books, just like clothes. Involve your kids in a bookshelf clean-out to weed out ones that they no longer read and make room for new favorites.
3. Introduce Nonfiction Books
The rhyming and illustrations in Dr. Seuss books are great for kids. It’s also good to introduce nonfiction reads can teach them about science, nature and real people and events in a relatable way. Discussing the parts of a nonfiction book that might not appear in fiction, like an index, glossary, table of contents, photos and captions can help your kids distinguish between fact and fiction books.
4. Host A Book Exchange
Want to expand your child’s library for less money? Turn a weekend play date into a book swap with your children’s closest friends. Ask your kids to select a few books to trade with friends and label the inside cover with their names to track what titles are being borrowed. Starting a book log for future visits can be a fun way to track favorite books amongst the group.
5. Create A Reading Month Challenge
March is National Reading Month, so there’s no reason to devote just one day to a love of books. Challenging your kids to read as many physical books as they can before April can be a fun way to set reading goals. If your child has siblings, encouraging them to share their favorite stories can make reading a habit your whole family will enjoy.
