As I unpacked the holiday decor this year, I ran across some of my family's holiday books and it inspired me to share with you some ways to make reading part of your family's holiday traditions.
- Read aloud count down-Growing up my father would start reading "A Christmas Carol" sometime around Thanksgiving and finishing by Christmas eve. It became such a favorite that most of us, were able to quote the opening paragraph. You can see our well loved copy taped together above.
- Make the old new-My mother-in-law found this advent calendar and bought it for my boys when they were young. I loved having a new way to share my family tradition with the boys and my young sons were obsessed with this every year. We enjoyed a portion of the story every night just as I did with an interactive book they could take out and hold and then put a way.
- Start a new tradition and have your own Jolabokaflod! Give everyone a new book on Christmas eve to read. My children nag every Christmas eve to open just one item under the tree. This year, they will each be allowed to open a book to read before bed. When my boys were young, I started a tradition of only giving my boys three gifts (as baby Jesus got three) and there was always something from Santa. Now I can keep the presents to a minimum and still share a love for reading!
By making reading part of your families holiday tradition, you show the value of reading and make it part of their fond holiday memories. It's also a wonderful way to bond and de-stress during the craziness of the holidays! Remember, "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents." Emilie Buchwold.
