5 Tips to Celebrate National Family Literacy Month
Do the activities of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” mesmerize your toddler? Do they lose themselves in the pictures of his Grandpa getting lost in the mysteries of a John Grisham novel? A love for books is timeless and shared across all generations. Nothing beats curling up with a good book and exploring the countless possibilities of worlds both real and imagined. So lets take a moment and talk about National Family Literacy Month and what you can do for your family.
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”- Emilie Buchwald
For many, the love for books starts at an early age in the stories our parents read to us. Providing your children with plentiful opportunities to listen to stories will help them learn to read and comprehend stories on their own. Moreover, they also begin to think more actively as they listen to stories and picture the scenes described, wondering how the story will develop. When read to frequently, children can grow to love reading and will take the initiative to read more on their own.
National Family Literacy Day® is celebrated on November 1st each year and is a kickoff to National Family Literacy Month. This November, the celebration of National Family Literacy Month brings about a great opportunity for families to get back into the tradition of reading as a family.
Here are ways you can promote family literacy at home.
- Set aside time each day for reading.
- Keep books visible around the house.
- Make regular visits to the library.
- Read the book version of your child’s favorite movie.
- Organize a children’s book club with friends in the neighborhood.
Reading books that match ability and interests exposes children to new worlds. Check out the Kumon Recommended Reading List for age-appropriate book selections.