Do You Have a Set Reading Time in Your Home?
Are your kids tied to a screen or device instead of picking up a great book to read? Do your children focus on videogames or TV, how can you ensure that your kids make time to read?
You really need to set a specific time in your home that is solely for reading. If you’re looking to break bad habits then you should start small with a short time of 20 minutes of reading and work your way up as you and your children progress.
Schedule time to read
If you know reading is not going to happen, then you really need to schedule it into your day. Is it something that you can do right before school, in the afternoon or right before bed? Pick a time and make it a part of your routine.
I really like reading before bed, it settles my kids down, and they don’t want to stop because they don’t want to go to bed, ha!
Carry books with you wherever you go
Think of all the places where your child may carry an electronic device, now replace it with a book. While it’s easy to hand your child a phone or portable game system to occupy them during a long car ride or while your waiting for sibling to finish karate lessons. Hand them a book instead, without anything else to do, they’ll read it.
Listen to audiobooks
If you want to schedule in reading time during a more busy period like lunch time, where you can’t physically read since you’re eating, how about putting on an audiobook? My kids love audiobooks and it gives mama’s throat a break from all the reading.
Eliminate screen time
You really need to set limits on your child’s screen time, I know if I let my children roam free, they’d gravitate towards the TV, video games or the computer. We also have a tablet and phones, there’s just so many options and it’s easy to get caught up and addicted to your device. All I had when I was a child was the TV, I played outside at the park daily because TV just got old.
Set an example
If your children sees you glued to a device then they’ll likely want to do the same, model the behavior that you’d like to see your child carry out. If you want to see them reading, then you need to be seen reading as well.
Schedule time to read
If you know reading is not going to happen, then you really need to schedule it into your day. Is it something that you can do right before school, in the afternoon or right before bed? Pick a time and make it a part of your routine.
I really like reading before bed, it settles my kids down, and they don’t want to stop because they don’t want to go to bed, ha!
Carry books with you wherever you go
Think of all the places where your child may carry an electronic device, now replace it with a book. While it’s easy to hand your child a phone or portable game system to occupy them during a long car ride or while your waiting for sibling to finish karate lessons. Hand them a book instead, without anything else to do, they’ll read it.
Listen to audiobooks
If you want to schedule in reading time during a more busy period like lunch time, where you can’t physically read since you’re eating, how about putting on an audiobook? My kids love audiobooks and it gives mama’s throat a break from all the reading.
Eliminate screen time
You really need to set limits on your child’s screen time, I know if I let my children roam free, they’d gravitate towards the TV, video games or the computer. We also have a tablet and phones, there’s just so many options and it’s easy to get caught up and addicted to your device. All I had when I was a child was the TV, I played outside at the park daily because TV just got old.
Set an example
If your children sees you glued to a device then they’ll likely want to do the same, model the behavior that you’d like to see your child carry out. If you want to see them reading, then you need to be seen reading as well.
How cool! We read throughout the day, but we also have a set reading time (all together and alone reading time, too). 😉
Yes we always had a reading time – and our family motto was “Don’t leave home without a book!” Reading was also our calming down activity or what we did while waiting.
Our two times are on the road (if they want, but otherwise we chat or look out the windows) and for 45 minutes after bed (or they can just go to sleep).