September is around the weekly corner. Even for us Nanas, there is anticipation of new beginnings at this time of year. It’s not the beginning of an actual “new year” but it’s certainly the beginning of much activity if there are children in our lives.

School has started. There are so many dynamics that play into that event alone. As a recently retired public school teacher, this beginning changed everything in my routine, and it honestly affects almost all of us (even if it’s just about traffic!).

With the start of school, comes the start of many activities for our children as well. They may be involved in sports, in dance or chorus, theatre, drama, art lessons, music lessons, riding lessons, martial arts, or gymnastics, you get it; the list goes on and on! And ON. The routine sets in and busyness becomes routine. Homework has to finagle it’s way into the schedule as well, somewhere between school itself and all of the activities we feel compelled to expose our kiddoes to.

Making time for our kids to just “sit and read” can be challenging, and it can be the thing that is slowly shifted out of the daily schedule. How can we creatively and simply fit reading time into the lives of our littles? Let’s look at some possible solutions:

1. Turn devices off: Figure out what time of evening or morning this might work for your family and turn off all devices including the TV. The quiet can encourage talking and reading! It’s a good idea to do this at dinner time anyway, so this could be an easy extension to implement. Turning off devices is a simple way to claim back time.
2. Plan on just five-ten minutes: If we make this a realistic block of time it’s much more likely to happen. The time can easily be extended if possible, once we dig into a good book. If we imagine that we have to create a 30 minute peaceful, perfect setting, we’re just setting ourselves up to be discouraged.
3. Just start: This is something we can easily put this off, just waiting and waiting for this perfect block of time to just magically appear. It’s not going to. It really doesn’t matter when it is or where it is, just as long as we start exposing them to reading and books in some manner.
4. Even if they’re little, start: Even as young as five- six months old, we can start with simple picture books, shape books, crinkly books and song books. As their brains are developing, we can provide healthy stimulation and help them make start making connections.
5. Be flexible with location: Examine your family routines and be creative with what may work. Maybe the kids can read in the back seat when you pick them up from lacrosse practice and then read until you pull into the garage. The car is a realistic location for many families. Some of our kiddoes may like to unwind before bed, and reading in bed after prayers may be relaxing and the best time for them. Some kids may want to sit at the kitchen table, others in a cozy chair, and others may want to create their own little book nook for reading.
6. Consider different formats: Some weeks, audio books and “read alouds” may be the best option. For lots of children, hard copies are most desirable, but for others, the lighting that a kindle provides can be helpful. Be willing to be flexible and change formats, based on situations.
7. Let THEM select books of interest: Often the teacher or school will require specific books, but when the opportunity provides itself, let the kids choose the books of interest that they want to read. Our kids like it when we let them make decisions.
8. Talk about it and listen: Ask the kids! We can ask the kids for input about where and when they would like to create time for reading. Our littles may come up with creative ideas that have never even crossed our minds!

Yes, our kids are “reading” required information in school, and maybe their teacher even reads to them during the day. But, at some point, we want our children to create the habit of picking up a book instead of a device and learning on their own. Booking Time with Our KIDS is a gift we’re giving them. It’s a big deal and worth figuring out how to make it work in our families. As this school year and all the activities begin, let’s get creative with making reading happen too.

THANKS for reading! Please subscribe for a weekly idea of how we can BOOK TIME WITH OUR KIDS, and share!