Stress-Busting Holiday Reading Tips for Families

To make reading a part of your holiday traditions, try some of these fun literacy activities.

• Encourage your child to create bookmarks to enclose in a gift book or to mark the place in your own book where you leave off during read-aloud time.

• Ask your child to help with holiday shopping. Have him or her write out the list and then read the items aloud as you peruse the aisles together.

• Give your child a companion book to traditional holiday gifts, such as a book on juggling and several brightly colored balls; a book about fossils and a bag of plaster of Paris; or a book about stamp collecting and a stamp album.

• When it's time for holiday baking, ask your child to read the directions aloud to you. While the cookies are in the oven, read a short book together.

• Suggest that your childs teacher turn the classroom holiday gift exchange into a book exchange.

• Help your child make his or her own holiday gifts for family and friends by following the directions in a how-to-book.

• Ask your child to help you write out gift nametags. Use extra large gift tags for tiny hands!

• Encourage your child to volunteer to read to residents in a local retirement home or hospital.

• Give a bookstore gift certificate as a holiday present so your child can select a new book on his or her own. Read the book together.

• Visit the library and pick out some holiday favorites for festive family reading all season long.

Tips by Topic:

• Choosing Good Books
• Creating Reading Spaces at Home
• Encouraging Struggling Readers
• Motivating Kids to Read
• Partnering with Teachers
• Reading Aloud
• Tips for Seasonal Reading