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Holiday checklists shine with our favorite traditions: colored lights, eggnog, candles, warm mugs, and time spent frolicking in winter sunshine and glistening snow. These fine lists wouldn't be complete without another holiday essential: books.
Reading-themed family activities are a perfect fit for this festive season of holiday gatherings and long winter nights. Studies have affirmed that kids are more likely to become readers if books are present in their homes. Similarly, the presence of books is likely to stimulate positive family interactions—whether it's with your kids or visiting grandkids, nieces and nephews.
Reading together as a family is the ideal antidote to the frenzy and stress that all too often accompany the holidays. Reading is calming, soothing, and leaves no mess to clean up. At the same time, it exercises the brain, stimulates imagination, and builds vocabulary and background knowledge.
A family read-aloud unites everyone present to a shared experience. Through reading aloud, parents and grandparents can introduce the family to the characters and books they loved as a child: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Curious George, the Grinch, and Charlie Brown.
Kids can introduce Mom, Dad, Grandma, and Grandpa to new characters of the holidays: Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, Little Blue Truck, and Olivia.
Favorite holiday songs can be read aloud together through picture books: Deck the Halls, Good King Wenceslas, O Christmas Tree, The Twelve Days of Christmas, I Have a Little Dreidel, and By the Hanukkah Light.
Reading brings the family together. This holiday season, keep your heart aglow through reading and learning with family and community.