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Homeschooling families tend to read a lot, but do you include enough just for fun reading in your homeschool day? Try Sara’s simple tips to make sure you do!
You’ve seen them in the library – the family pulling the wagon loaded with books. Maybe you were looking in the mirror when you saw them. Whatever the case, it’s pretty safe to assume that anytime you see a book-toting, wagon-pulling family in the library, they’re probably homeschoolers
We homeschoolers tend to do a lot of reading. Especially when you’re taking a literature-rich, living books approach to learning as we do in our family. But how often do we encourage our children to read just for fun as an enjoyable activity?
Do you encourage reading for the pure joy of getting lost in a good story? Or exploring delight-directed learning of their own choice?
5 Simple Ways to Add Just for Fun Reading to Your Family’s Daily Routine
We all know how essential reading is to our children’s development. But sometimes it can be challenging to incorporate into your family’s already busy schedule. You probably already read often with your homeschool curriculum. But, making just for fun reading a fun part of your family’s routine is a great way to reinforce its importance in your everyday life.
Add reading to your family’s daily routine with these simple tips.
Keep Books on Hand
One simple way to encourage daily, just for fun reading is to make it easy to pick up a book at any time. Make books visible throughout your home, so you and your kids can quickly grab one when you have a few spare minutes.
Keeping a few books in your purse or diaper bag will make it simple to read while waiting at the doctor’s office or sitting in traffic.
I like to put together simple book baskets. I have baskets based on my daughters’ interests (such as butterflies), seasonal book baskets, or those featuring topics related to our delight-directed unit studies. The kids can pick and choose what they like at the moment — just for fun!
I rotate the books often and put the basket in an easily accessible place on the shelf. This set-up is similar to the one for our science shelf, which encourages science-related reading and activities.
Add Just for Fun Reading to Your Schedule
For families with jam-packed days filled with activities, ensure you include every day reading moments by adding it to your schedule.
Make reading a part of your bedtime routine or schedule time for just for fun reading after your lunch break. Whichever you choose, this scheduled reading time will quickly become a family routine. Building positive habits around learning is a foundational Charlotte Mason principle.
Make Reading Fun
Reading time is a great way to instill a love of books in your children. And while reading itself can be fun, enhancing this time with other activities can build your kids’ enthusiasm. Create crafts that coordinate with the story or make connections between the book and your everyday lives.
One example is our list of books about ice cream and ice cream related crafts and activities. My daughters love any chance to be creative, and crafty projects related to favorite books adds another fun dimension to reading.
Read Everywhere
While reading books is an obvious way to create a daily reading routine, your kids can read something wherever they go. Help them notice the opportunities that are all around them.
Label things throughout the house or point out words on signs when you’re out and about. Soon, your kids won’t be able to stop themselves from reading everything in sight.
Head to the Library
Keeping your kids interested in reading will require you to refresh your home library regularly to provide them with new reading material. Heading to the library each week can be a fun adventure for your kids.
Allow them to select their own reading material. And, be sure to include just for fun books along with those you need for schooling.
And don’t forget your wagon!
What are some ways you let your kids explore reading just for fun?
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