I was talking with someone the other day, and the topic of bookmobiles came up in conversation. What is a bookmobile, you ask? A bookmobile is sort of a mobile library. Roughly the size of a school bus, the inside is lined with bookshelves. FULL bookshelves. I remember the one from my childhood having a small desk and a file cabinet near the front, and a friendly librarian eager to help her patrons. Our bookmobile arrived every Friday afternoon, parked in front of the local market, and it was the first place I wanted to go after school. The librarian would help me make selections and then take any requests I had for the following week. For the first 18 years of my life, it was the only public library I had access to. I loved that place.
When I became a mom and lived in a bigger town, my heart was flooded with all those wonderful memories. I remember the thrill I got on bookmobile days and wanted to share that with my kids. The adventure of opening a new book and not quite knowing where it would take you. I just knew that some of our best days would be in shared stories and characters.
As I look back on our homeschool journey, I realize giving my kids a love of reading is one of my greatest accomplishments. Our family has been formed by the books we've read and discussed together, as well as the ideas we brought to the table over our own personal reading. When I think of what inspired this love of reading, a few thoughts come to mind. My hope is that in sharing them with you, you too can create a love of reading in your own family.
1. Be an example
Our children follow our example. Especially when they're young. So let them catch you reading. Talk about what you're learning. Or let them see you reading just a couple of pages in the morning before your day begins. Maybe mention that you're going to pick up your book after you put them to bed. Let them know that reading is something that everyone does, including Mom and Dad.
2. Read aloud to your kids
This was something we started early on in our family culture. Every night before bed, the kids would each grab a picture book to read before our Bible time. It was a great way to wind down the day. After we've gone through different stages, our reading time has been flexible. But no matter what, we try to find at least 15 min/day to read together.
3. Sneaky reading moments
Find those little fringe moments in the day for everyone to read. Whether it's reading aloud together, or just taking 15 min after lunch for everyone to read on their own, find those pockets of time where the whole family can be reading. Just a few minutes at a time adds up quickly. And asking young children to read quietly for small time blocks keeps them reading without being overwhelmed.
4. Use audiobooks
When my kiddos were 2 and 4 years old, we had a road trip planned to surprise my sister-in-law for her high school graduation. To avoid the in-car TV, I went to the library and grabbed a few audiobooks. We'd never tried audiobooks before, and they were an instant hit. It immediately threw us into the audiobook world. Long trips, short trips, driving to activities in town... we have lived so many adventures together through stories. And it's inspired many family conversations about character and who we are becoming.
5. Let your kids get comfy
While we have read in a variety of locations, there's nothing quite like snuggling up on the couch with some cozy blankets and reading together. Maybe you cozy up for reading first thing in the morning while everyone is enjoying breakfast. Or after everyone's showered and in comfy pajamas. There's something about being near each other that makes for an enjoyable family reading experience.
6. Connect with their interests
Tap into your children's interests. I have one child who loves fantasy books, while I'd rather pick up historical fiction. When finding read-alouds or suggesting independent reads, think about what interests your child. I had one kid who went through a phase of reading mysteries. We had mysteries about ballparks, mysteries about presidents, mysteries about history, .... you name it. I did my due dilligence to make sure they were age-appropriate, and then we checked out nearly every mystery book we could get our hands on. He loved it.
7. Connect reading to life skills
Maybe you have a child who only wants to read if it has a real life application. My daughter had a season like that. Nothing fictional was satisfying. For this stage of life, we connect with skills she wanted to learn, specifically baking and cooking skills. She devoured everything in the culinary arts section of the library. This eventually led to fictional books with a baking theme, but she still leans heavily into non-fiction, even to this day. Reading doesn't have to be fictional. Allow your kiddos to pick books for developing skills. They will be inspired to push through the more challenging vocabulary and technical skills at the same time.
8. Partner read
If you have multiple children, partner them up. The older child will feel a sense of responsibility when being allowed to read a picture book to his younger sibling. Conversely, a younger child will be excited to show off his new reading skills in front of an older sibling. Partner reading can also help develop a sense of family and camaraderie between siblings.
9. Start a book club
Starting a book club with one's peers can create a sense of connectedness in community as well. Having a deadline to meet will motivate kids to find time for reading. Additionally, meeting together and sharing ideas, over snacks of course, will challenge readers to wrestle with the story and hear perspectives they might have missed.
10. Keep books visible
Having books visible means that anytime someone is bored, they're probably going to notice something to read. And if bored enough, they're more than likely going to pick up a book, magazine, Bible, pamphlet, etc, and start reading. Just by having books visible, it becomes an invitation to be read.
11. Fill out a reading bingo
There are a ton of reading bingo cards on the internet. I just found one the other day for adults, based around an autumn theme. Make reading into a game. The first one to make a bingo gets to go to Jamba Juice. Or the next person to get bingo gets to pick out the movie for family night. Or make it cooperative. When everyone gets a blackout card, the family has a Saturday adventure day. Gameify reading, and you'll quickly inspire a love of reading.
These are just a few ideas for inspiring reading in your home. But I know there are many more. Take one of these ideas that resonates with you and implement it in your family for a few weeks. And if that one doesn't work, choose another. The world is full of possibilities, and what works for one family won't always work for another. But I would love to hear your ideas for inspiring a love of reading. Tell me:
How do you inspire reading in your home?
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