READ WITH YOUR KIDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Why the Holidays are a Great Time for Reading to your Children

There are many studies that show the positive benefits of parents reading to their children. Because of their limited vocabulary, younger children rely on their parents to guide them through a book. When you read with your child, you are not only helping their imagination grow, but you are also encouraging their literacy and critical thinking skills. Another benefit of reading to your child instead of your child reading alone is it creates a bonding opportunity. Not only are you making your child feel appreciated and important, but you are creating a positive association with reading for them. You can also use reading time to teach basic lessons, such as pausing to ask questions about the story or explaining the meaning of words.

Finding the time to read to your child may be difficult, but the holiday presents many opportunities. During the holidays, both you and your child are more likely to have free time available. There are also many holiday-themed books to choose from, which will help your child stay engaged in the story.

Creating a Tradition

One of the reasons parents are encouraged to read to their children during the holidays is it builds tradition. Many children enjoy hearing the same stories over and over again. If you read the same set of stories during the holidays, your children will look forward to reading them whenever the holiday rolls around. This encourages your child to get excited about reading, which increases the likelihood they will become interested in reading on their own in the future.

Even if you do not read the same book each year, you can still create a reading tradition. Many parents will give their child a book as a holiday gift. Getting a book as a gift is another way to encourage future reading. It also creates more excitement for the holiday and gives something for children to look forward to. An extra benefit of holiday-themed books is teaching your child about the importance of the chosen holiday. This ensures they understand why the holiday matters and do not only associate the holiday with getting a gift.

Creating a tradition also builds a healthier family relationship. Many children grow up and carry on family traditions, meaning they will read to their own children when they are older. It also provides more stability and can help develop a routine. One of the reasons reading before bedtime is recommended is it helps get your child ready to rest. This can be especially important during the holidays, when children are normally more energetic and excited, which can disrupt their sleeping schedule.

Reasonable Expectations

While there are many benefits to reading to your child, it is still possible to read too much. Many of the benefits of reading come from taking the time to explain the story to your child and develop their critical thinking. Trying to cram as much reading as possible into an evening will not have any positive benefits. If anything, it is more likely to discourage future reading because it makes your child think of reading books as a chore instead of a fun activity.

Tips for Holiday Reading

There are many ways to encourage reading during the holidays. If your child can read by themself, consider letting them read from the cookbook while you make holiday meals. If you have multiple children, you can have the oldest read the story to you and your younger children. When you are discussing the themes of the story, make sure to ask questions. Do not simply tell your child what to take away from the story, but ask what he or she thinks about the plot.

During longer holiday vacations, take your child to the library to look for books. You do not have to limit their selection solely to holiday titles. Many libraries also host special events during the holidays, which you may wish to attend.

Books are Great Holiday Gifts

Another reason the holidays are frequently recommended as a time to read to children is that many children receive books as gifts. Books are an excellent gift because they are inexpensive, offer an alternative to digital entertainment, and appeal to a wide range of interests. Many books can also be part of a set of other gifts. For example, many of the books from Full Cycle Publications also include additional accessories, such as sticker and pin sets, patches, puzzles, and other games. These make excellent gift bundles and will also help keep your child engaged in reading. If they are excited about the accessories, they are more likely to want to re-read the story they are based on.

The Broken Ornament by Tony DiTerlizz

The Broken Ornament is a great book to read during Christmas. The story follows Jack, a young child who is excited about Christmas. For Jack, Christmas is solely a materialistic holiday. He’s excited about the decorations, holiday treats, and Christmas presents. When a family ornament breaks, Jack’s mother is upset, but Jack does not understand why until he learns the ornament was a family heirloom. The story helps children learn the deeper meaning of Christmas and look beyond getting holiday gifts.

Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Halloween by Deborah Heiligman

It is never too early to teach your children about other cultures. Celebrate Halloween is a nonfiction book that focuses on how other parts of the world celebrate Halloween. While some parents struggle to keep young children interested in nonfiction books, Celebrate Halloween is filled with plenty of fun and colorful visuals to keep children interested.

I Am Thankful by Sheri Wall

While there are many excellent Thanksgiving books for children, I Am Thankful stands out from the pack. Most Thanksgiving stories focus on the importance of family, while I Am Thankful explores the greater meaning of the holiday, with an emphasis on showing kindness to others and valuing your community. The book also includes additional activities and crafts for the holiday season.