When our kids were in 2nd grade, kindergarten, and preschool, my husband’s job sent him to San Diego for six weeks. The kids and I decided to tag along. To give us plenty of freedom to explore during the day, we decided to homeschool. We used workbooks and some learning targets the teachers shared with us as a guide, but for the most part, we were winging it.

There was one activity in particular I believe helped the kids make the most strides in learning to read and write. Knowing how young they were, I was afraid they would forget that incredible trip and all the fun things we did together. For that reason, I gave them each a notebook so they could write about our experiences. One hiccup: our youngest two couldn’t write on their own. But I wanted the journals to reflect their personal thoughts and feelings, which required some creativity.

First, I had each of the kids dictate to me what they wanted to say about that day’s events. I wrote down what they said in my clearest handwriting. Then, I had them copy it directly under my writing. Finally, we decorated the pages with drawings, clippings from visitors’ guides, and other fun finds to add a visual reminder of our activities.

Something about the process of speaking their own words, seeing them in print, and then writing them out themselves really clicked with each of them. Before our trip was over, our oldest’s writing had definitely improved, our middle child was able to read on his own, and our youngest was recognizing letters with greater ease. This project worked so well for us, we have repeated it with each of our kids. I highly recommend you try it with your own. It doesn’t require that you go off exploring a new city; there are plenty of other things to write about. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

Writing about COVID-19

Now that we have just begun our summer break, it’s the perfect time to have our children look back on this unprecedented year. Here are some sentence starters to help them sum up the past school year in their own words.

• I will never forget the school year 2020-21, because . . . 
• Doing remote learning felt like . . .
• Having to wear a mask at school was . . .
• I wish that instead of having to . . . we could have . . .
• I was surprised that I got used to  . . . 
• I really liked the way my teacher . . .
• It felt harder to learn this year because . . .
• I really missed being able to . . .
• Next year I hope we can . . .

Writing about Summer Activities

Try to select outings that use as many senses as possible. This will help your children remember events more clearly and help them put words to how they felt about what they did or saw. Remember to grab ticket stubs, pamphlets, coupons, or any other small, flat, visual representation of your adventures. They will love attaching them to their journal and making it their own, unique record. 

• My favorite thing about today was . . .
• (Walking through the forest) was like . . .
• I was as happy as a . . .
• I will never forget how . . .
• (Swimming in the lake) made me remember how . . .
• After a day like today, all I want to do is . . .
• I can’t believe (Mom made us) . . .
• Tomorrow I hope we get to . . .
• I’m glad to be part of this family, because . . .

Tips for Success

• You may prefer to write at the end of each day while memories are fresh. If you find that hard to fit in with your nightly routine, you can write the following morning, or even once a week. Consider setting a timer to help you remember that it’s journal-writing time.
• While your children write in their journals, you might take that time to write in yours, as well. Setting an example will make it easier for them to want to participate. 
• Don’t expect perfection. This should be a fun project, not a graded one.
• The shorter the entry, the better. Keep it to a few sentences. Just cover the highlights!
• If they enjoy drawing pictures to go along with their writing, make sure to give them plenty of time to complete their sketches.
• When your children have difficulty describing the day, feel free to prompt them. Refer to the sample sentences above, or ask, “What did you think about the . . . (name a particular thing you saw, did, or ate)?”
• Allow your children to show off their journal to friends and loved ones. The feedback they receive will motivate them to keep working at it.
• Give them the chance to try their hand at similes and metaphors. They might surprise you!
• Be sure to reread old entries. Your children will enjoy reliving memorable days.
• Don’t worry about trying to make up for any missed days. Just start where you are and keep moving forward.

Our kids’ journals are a treasure, both to them and to us. It reminds us of the incredible things we saw, the exciting things we did, and just how little our children were when we explored San Diego. The fact that this project contributed to their literacy is truly icing on that delicious cake.

As schools are letting out for summer, your kids will probably want to take a short mental/emotional break from learning. So do your best to respect their needs. But please take advantage of any summer reading programs available to you. These have built-in rewards your children will love to earn. All you have to do is help them keep track of time spent reading and/or information about the books they read. In addition, there are other activities you can do on your own to motivate your children in their reading efforts.

Barnes & Noble

If you live near a Barnes & Noble and you have children between first and sixth grade, they qualify to earn a free book! All that’s required is the title, author, and your children’s favorite part of eight books read over the summer. Here is the link to the journal to print out and the list of books you may choose from, divided into age-appropriate groups. After your kids have completed their reading, bring the journal to the bookstore for a fun outing. Plan to stay a while. Allow your children the chance to browse and read. Make note of the titles they want to find at the library. Just remember they are going to want to buy stuff, too! Telling them ahead of time how much they can spend will cut down on the negotiations (or fits) when it comes time to check out.

Public Library

Most libraries offer a summer reading challenge. Our local library presents you with a free book after logging 10 hours of reading. After 100 hours, you receive a t-shirt. While this can be a bit harder to track for each of your children, there is no age limitation. So have your older kids read to the younger ones and that time will count for everyone. If you have a child who forgets to log his minutes, don’t fret. Just wait until she is done with the book, then record how long it takes her to read one page. Multiply that time by the total number of pages, and then you will have your data to log. 

Plan regular visits to the library so your children have lots of material to digest. Consider selecting one day to attend each week. This will give them something to look forward to and a good reason to get through the books they bring home. If you are uncertain about what to look for, refer to a librarian or back to the post Fanning Their Flames. And if you aren’t sure where your closest library is located, check this website.

Chuck E. Cheese

When your children read every day for two weeks, they can earn 10 free play points at Chuck E. Cheese with any food purchase. Here is their rewards calendar to help you keep track of reading. The fine print specifies that it is good for one offer per child, per day. The good news is that these rewards aren’t limited to just reading. If you have a little one who lost a tooth, is potty training, working on behavior, or any other goal you can think of, they can also earn 10 free play points. Take advantage of these incentives to help your child grow and progress during the summer months.

Reading Outings

On your way home from the library or after running errands, stop by a new scenic spot to spend some quiet time with a book. Let your kids know you will be setting a timer for (fill in the blank) minutes. Having a set end time will keep them from losing interest and will make it easier for everyone to fill in their reading logs. Bring a folding chair or blanket and a snack for everyone. And don’t forget a hat or sunglasses to make it easier on their little eyes! These outings will help make summer reading enjoyable and exciting for each of you.

Create Your Own Family Competition

Go purchase an affordable item you know each of your kids would love to have. Set it on top of the fridge where everyone can see it. Tell them the prize will go to the first person who reads (fill in the blank) hours. If this is achieved quickly enough, go get another prize for round two! If your kids aren’t motivated by competition or you’re concerned about hurt feelings when someone doesn’t earn their heart’s desire, make it a family goal instead. If your entire family reads (fill in the blank) hours by the end of the summer, everyone will receive the prize!

Make sure not to overschedule your summer with activities and events. Your children will need some downtime to invest in their reading. With just a little bit of planning and encouragement, your summer can become a hotbed of pleasure reading. I invite you to take some time to discuss with your children which programs they would like to try. And whenever possible, put down that device and join in on the fun!

Have you had any success with these programs in the past? Which one are you most looking forward to trying this summer? Please share with us your reading experiences!

Do you have a child who is relentlessly on the go? Who refuses to slow down long enough to sit and read with you? Who seems to think books are to be used as stepping stones? No problem! I know it’s been hard on you and you’ve tried so many things. But giving up is not an option. It is absolutely necessary that we read to our children daily. This one act can determine your child’s entire future, and I want to help you make it as bright as possible. 

 In my experience, finding those few moments throughout the day where he is confined to a particular space is key. That way you don’t have to go chasing after him and waste your energy. It’s okay if he is occupied with something else. The point is simply for him to be able to hear you reading. The artwork in picture books is often lovely, amusing, and can deepen understanding of the story, but isn’t absolutely necessary for your child to achieve literacy. Reading, however, very much is.

Pottytime

While your child is on the pot waiting for the magic to happen, sit down next to him. Help the time go by with a great book. Chances are he’ll be more likely to stay on the potty. And the distraction from reading might take the pressure off and help move things along. If you can stand the stench, the reward will be doubly worth it! (In with the good, out with the bad, as they say.)

Mealtime

Another great time to read to your busy little one is while he is sitting in his highchair. It is helpful if he is able to feed himself. If not, you might need someone else to do the feeding so you can do the reading. That way both body and mind are nourished simultaneously. If you’re on your own, you might need to get creative!

In the Car

When you’re stuck in the school pick-up line, you likely have your young child with you. Even better, he is strapped in his carseat. He is not going anywhere! So pull out your bag of books and put on a lively show. (If you have other pressing tasks you need to address, make sure you at least have a dynamic book on tape for your child.) The time will fly by for you both. And you will have spent it the best way possible. This also works when waiting for sports or band practice to finish up, when stuck in traffic, or waiting to pick up your take out order.

In the Playpen

With your child conveniently corralled inside a playpen, I’m sure you have a million things you need or want to do. That’s to be expected. But please take a few minutes first to read to your child. Make it your number one priority, especially if this is the only way your child allows you to read to him. That small investment of time will pay off in spades.

If all else fails, pick any time your child is busy playing with his favorite toys. He will be focused on what he’s doing, but the sound of your reading aloud will still enter his adorable little ears. And if he’s truly not interested in what you’re reading, use that to your favor! Pick the latest novel you’ve been wanting to read and go for it. Hearing the rich descriptive language, the back-and-forth dialogue, and the inflection in your voice will certainly do the trick.

What else have you found to be effective when reading with your busy child?

Some children just don’t connect with reading the way others do. They’re not interested in it for school, for fun, or for any other reason. They might claim it is too boring or too hard. If this describes your child, I’d like to offer a few ideas for you to try. These recommendations are centered around the idea that each one of us is living our own life’s story. So if your child isn’t interested in reading other people’s stories, why not read them their own? 

Read Their Birth Story

Reading a story that is all about your child should pique their interest. They will likely hang on your every word and then ask for more! Although your child was present at this momentous occasion, they did not have the words to describe it. That wonderful, blessed job falls to you. 

A birth story can include some experiences during your pregnancy, the plan/expectations of how you thought things would go at their birth, how they actually went, yours and your partner’s inward emotions and outward movements when your infant came into this world, comments made by the doctors and nurses, and details that struck you. Click here for more steps and suggestions on how to write your child’s unique birth story if you don’t already have one done.

If your child is adopted, read to them about the time you first met them and brought them home. For older children, consider writing a fictional story about what it would’ve been like to have them from birth. How would you have felt? What things would you have said and done? These can be powerful ways to build a deeper connection with your child and can sometimes bring healing.

Read from Your Own Journal

I have been the most consistent with my journal writing since purchasing a five-year-journal. It contains 365 pages, one dedicated to each day of the year. A page has enough room for five entries, so you can look back on what happened that same day over many years. Most nights, after I read a bedtime story to my two youngest kids, my husband takes a turn reading and I write in my journal. 

Once I started filling in the entries for the second year, I would sometimes comment on something that happened that day the year prior. Then one of the girls began a habit of asking, “Mom, what happened a year ago today?” This has evolved into a fun nightly routine where we read one or two entries from my journal. The kids love it when their name is read or something funny or special happened that day. I find that this simple act contributes to their own life story by renewing their memories of past events, helping them recognize the important role they play in our family, giving them a better sense of the passing of time, and instilling in them a desire to keep a journal when they are capable of doing so.

If you don’t keep a journal, it might be time to start! You won’t have entries for last year, but in just 30 days, you could be reading last month’s entries to your child. For those who don’t care to keep a journal of their own, that’s completely fine. But please do consider helping your child write one for themselves. And if you can’t get them to read any other books, at least they will have their journal they can keep coming back to through the years.

Read about Their Ancestors

Children’s book author Julius Lester wrote about a concept I absolutely love. He said, “Our lives incorporate more than our physical existence and personal memories. Generations abide within us” (56). We know that to be true based on how DNA works. But beyond the science of genes, each of us becomes who we are mentally and emotionally because of what our ancestors experienced and endured. What a remarkable gift to give our children: a more complete understanding of who they are and why. 

This can be as simple as reading obituaries and old letters between family members. In addition, finding your ancestors and reading about their lives has never been easier, thanks to the websites listed below. Make this a project with your child. Write your own mystery! Try to solve the puzzle about how your family history has shaped the both of you. After all, “Each of us is comprised of stories, stories not only about ourselves but stories about ancestors we never knew and people we’ve never met” (Lester, 73). Now you can go find those stories AND continue writing your own.

Placing your child at the heart of your reading might be just the impetus they need. Be prepared for more frequent requests to read together. And don’t be surprised if you both benefit in other ways, as well!

Lester, Julius. On Writing for Children & Other People. Dial Books, 2004.

While reading is an activity that can be done anywhere, there is something about having a reading nook that elevates the experience. Getting cozy with a book in a relaxing, intimate, designated place can help readers lose themselves more completely in the story they’re reading. This space should be comfy, inviting, and magical. Once this is achieved, your children will want to spend time there each day. 

Remember that your reading nook will have to rival your TV and video game setup. Otherwise, they will simply pass by it on their way to the couch and controls. So up your decorating game (and don’t rule out that snack dispenser)! Here are some ideas on how to create that special spot for your burgeoning readers.

Make it Comfy

Grab your softest, coziest pillows, throws, floor cushions, or rugs to assemble in one area. Put them on or near a rocking chair, recliner, armchair, oversize bean bag, day bed, or window bench. Show your child how important reading is by setting aside a specific spot for it. Perfect locations for converting could be a small corner, playroom, landing, loft, alcove, attic, opening under the staircase, or unused closet with a sheer curtain. Most importantly, surround this pillowy, hallowed scene with books!

Make it Inviting

Make it Magical

You can really kick your nook up a notch by incorporating a way to escape the bustle of the house. Put up a small teepee, a bed canopy, or make a fort to block out interruptions, interferences, and disturbances. The shrouded entrance will make it feel like your children are crossing into an enchanted scene. Some soothing music could also help.

If you are tight on space, consider allowing your child creative license to build temporary reading refuges from time to time. A table or desk covered in a light blanket will do in a pinch. And if your climate is agreeable, try moving your reading nook outside! Make a stack of outdoor cushions on your balcony, porch, patio, or in your treehouse. Place pillows and throws in your hammock or bench swing. Load a basket with books for ease in transporting them in and out. You might even consider wheeling a utility cart outside, stocked with books to ensure a variety of reading options. Many summers in my youth I was transported to other worlds by reading outside. The magic is real!

This doesn’t have to be an expensive or extravagant project. It just needs to be deliberate. The picture above shows one reading area in our house. The bean bag* makes it super comfy and the colorful books and stuffed characters are inviting. What makes it magical is that the shelves cover a whole wall. It upgrades the space into a universe of possibilities: a child’s reading oasis.

Do you have a space set aside just for reading? If not, how soon can you make one?

*Our “bean bag” is filled with stuffed animals, not beans. It’s an ingenious and affordable way to store your fluffy friends and put them to good use, too!

When we were little, my mom would fall asleep while trying to read to us in the evening. With 10 kids to take care of each day, I’m sure she was exhausted. Therefore, the job fell to my dad. He sat in a chair while we three youngest were tucked in our beds. We shared a room with an awesome bunk bed and a trundle bed tucked underneath. The older kids would often come in to listen, too. I have such fond memories of Dad reading to us, so when we finally had kids in our home, I wanted to read the same way he did.

Except . . . have you ever tried to read to a child with ADHD at bedtime? How about three of them? We attempted doing this on and off for years, with very little success and a lot of frustration. We knew they would have a hard time sitting still and would want to fidget with something. So we bought the little gadgets and toys made especially for this purpose. They all ended up lost, broken, or tossed aside. We became more understanding of that issue over time. But it was the endless—and often random—interruptions, questions, comments, (and cries that they didn’t see the picture!) that made it hard to make it through even one sentence. 

This was devastating to me. How could I pass on one of my family’s dearest legacies if it was something I had begun to dread every night? Deep down I believed there had to be a way. 

Making Adjustments

After realizing our kids couldn’t handle being close together—or even in the same room—during reading time, we tried sitting each of them in their bedroom doorway. Having their own space seemed to help somewhat, but being able to see the pictures was still a major issue. Based on our observations, the best solution was allowing them to look at books or read to themselves silently at bedtime. It didn’t get them riled up, and the peace and quiet was so nice! It was life changing for all of us. We moved reading time with our kids to the morning or sometimes right after school. Their busy brains didn’t seem to be as overwhelmed earlier in the day, and it became a much more enjoyable activity.

This was our own experience with night-time reading. Yours is likely different. But if you aren’t happy with how things are going, I encourage you to try a new approach. Please remember that doing things differently from other families does NOT mean you’re failing in any way. It means you are tailoring your reading to your children’s needs and being a great parent. How I wish we had tried other methods earlier on, instead of trying to make the one I was familiar with work for us. Here are a few more ideas to consider changing:

Give these possibilities some thought, especially as you pray or meditate. You’ll be inspired with ideas because you are putting in the effort. Tell your kids you are going on a reading adventure! Try a new way a few times and consider recording how things went. Go with what feels optimal, and, if necessary, readjust later.

If you are struggling, I promise that better, more meaningful reading experiences are ahead. Keep at it! You will find something that works best for you and your unique family. 

If you have had to make adjustments in the past and are happy with how things are going now, we would so love to have you share with us your singular experiences in the comments!