Reading together has allowed my family to build meaningful connections and to create shared memories that will last a lifetime. A timeless tradition that often goes overlooked, it is a simple, and yet profoundly impactful tool for family bonding. Cultivating a love for reading is a gift we can all give to our kids, as they embark on the path to becoming lifelong readers and learners.

In a world fueled by distractions, technology and the pressure to do more often dominate our attention. Carving out time to read as a family can offer a much needed sanctuary in a fast paced world.

Benefits of Families Reading Together

Taking the time to read together provides numerous benefits for families, both emotional and intellectual. This activity offers an opportunity to slow down and enjoy life together, as you engage in stories that ignite imaginations and renew creativity. Reading together opens up discussions about various themes, allowing families to strengthen values, while learning and growing together. Some noteworthy benefits are:

1. Strengthening Relationships and Family Bonding

Sharing in the magic of stories allows family members to connect and know each other in meaningful ways. Reading together, through all of the ebbs and flows of life, will foster closeness and bond families together.

2. Enhancing Communication Skills

Through the discussion of stories and characters, open communication is encouraged. Children are given a safe space to express thoughts and emotions, with support and guidance from parents.

3. Building Empathy and Understanding

Children will develop empathy through exposure to diverse characters and experiences. This teaches them to value different perspectives and provides an understanding of the broader scope of human experiences. Developing a greater capacity for empathy can increase gratitude and appreciation for the lessons and the blessings experienced throughout life.

4. Nurturing Cognitive Development

Exposure to language, through the wider vocabulary available in written materials, stimulates intellectual growth. Children who are read to with greater frequency perform better academically, across all subjects. The same is true for kids who read independently on a regular basis. Reading develops critical thinking skills and encourages the reader to make connections to the world around them.

5. Raising Lifelong Readers and Learners

Human beings are creative and imaginative storytellers. This is deeply engrained in our history. Reading books together as a family instills an appreciation for storytelling while building connection—to ourselves, to each other, and to humanity as a whole. Children who are raised to love reading will gain valuable skills. They also inherit a greater drive and capacity for learning, which will forever add value to their lives.

Practical Tips for Reading Together

Selecting the Right Books

Finding success and joy in reading together begins with selecting books that captivate and resonate with the entire family. Choosing books will become easier with time, as you learn what your family loves and values most. When selecting books, remember to keep the focus on family bonding. Choose the books that will best aid your family in your reading goals.

Things to Consider

• Age-Appropriateness: Find books suitable for a variety of ages and stages. Consider the needs and maturity levels of all family members.

• Reading Levels: Reading levels are less important when the grown ups are doing the reading. Older kids will still enjoy picture books. Younger children will enjoy and understand more than what they can read independently. Find the sweet spot, and ask questions periodically to gauge comprehension skills and text difficulty.

• Maintaining Interest: Seek out books with captivating story lines and characters that interest your kids. Look for stories that will spark curiosity and imagination, allowing everyone in the family to find excitement in reading together.

• Diverse Themes: Search for stories that touch on a range of themes and interests that your family values. In addition, be willing to seek out books with themes related to challenges your family has faced. Doing so will provide opportunities for rich discussions and for growing together. Family bonding is even more crucial in times of hardship. Don’t be afraid to choose books with themes related to difficult topics. Some examples include grief, single parent households, job loss, and growing or blending families.

• Classic and Contemporary: Incorporate a mixture of works, both timeless classics and modern narratives. Your kids will benefit from a wide range of styles and story structures. Reading classics together will provide exposure to rich language and build background knowledge. This will boost reading comprehension skills. Modern stories are also important, as they provide meaningful connections to the world around us.

Recommended Books for Families

Choosing books can feel overwhelming, and the choice can make or break your efforts with kids who may be resistant to reading together. Navigating the infinite number of books and possibilities takes time and care. Selecting books will get easier. As you continue to read together, you will discover which books lead to the highest-quality bonding time for your family.

When struggling for ideas, I love to expose my kids to stories that I am familiar with. Sometimes these are from my own childhood or ones that are highly recommended by others. This helps to ensure a greater likelihood of success and higher engagement. Here are some popular suggestions to get you started:

• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Selecting books with movie adaptions, such as those listed above, is one way to bring more joy to reading. This often excites even the most book resistant kids. It also serves as an easy and fun way to extend family bonding time after the story ends. Consider commemorating the completion of a book with a family movie night.

Choosing a series is another great option. If you’re family enjoys the first book in a series, you can continue the adventure together with the next book. We often begin a series this way. My son sometimes chooses to finish the series independently when our family is ready to move on to something new.

Check out our monthly read-alouds for more inspiration.

Create a Routine for Reading Together

Consistent habits and routines will ensure family reading time is a cherished part of daily life. These steps can help you to create successful reading habits:

• Set a Reading Schedule: Be as consistent as possible to help build a strong routine and emphasize family bonding.

• Create a Cozy Reading Space: If you have the space and resources, be as creative with this as you wish. I have a preference for multi-use areas, so, our living room doubles as our home library. This ensures our books are always front and center. Our couch faces a large window with tons of natural light which is great for daytime reading.

• Involve Everyone: No matter what ages and stages make up your family, everybody can join in on family reading time. Encourage grandparents and sitters to read aloud to your kids as well. The more reading exposure the better. If you have a village, utilize it!

• Make Reading Fun: If your kids struggle to stay engaged, try putting together a story time bin. You may wish to include quiet fidget toys, building toys, crayons, or stuffed animals. Use anything that works for your family, while keeping reading time as the primary focus. Just be sure to regularly test their engagement with questions about the story.

• Be Patient: All habits and hobbies take time to build. Don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to switch things up and to try different approaches.

• Eliminate Distractions: Put the electronics away and turn off phone notifications. Make family reading time a no-screens zone. Pick a time of the day when you can step away from the responsibilities of life. The responsibilities will still be waiting for you after. Learn to slow down and make the time. Be present with your family and committed to reading together.

Family Bonding Beyond the Pages

Shared Discussions for Family Bonding

When reading aloud together, take the time to discuss stories in depth and to exchange ideas and thoughts. Open-ended questions will encourage conversations and develop critical thinking skills. Discussions will allow your family to connect emotionally, as thoughts and feelings are shared in a safe and loving environment. Begin with some simple conversation starters, such as these, and go wherever the conversation leads you:

• Which character can you relate to the most and why?
• What lessons did you learn from the story and characters?
• What part of the story did you enjoy the most?
• How did you feel at the beginning, middle, and end of the story?
• What would you change about the story?

Celebrating Reading Milestones

• Special Outings: Look for ways to continue the adventure after finishing a story. Consider touring a chocolate factory or visiting a candy shop, after reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Visit a local fair or farm, after reading Charlotte’s Web. After finishing Mr. Popper’s Penguins, take a trip to an aquarium or a zoo with a penguin exhibit.

• Reading Reward Log: Habit trackers are helpful for developing new habits and routines. Set goals and log your family’s reading. Agree on a reward for the whole family for completing an agreed milestone. We’ve used rewards like a trip to the bookstore or movie night (great for books with a movie adaption). Outings or a special treat can make for great rewards, too. Choose whatever motivates your family and fits your lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

Time spent reading together is an often overlooked way of bonding with your family. Imagine the joy of snuggling up together with a book on a rainy day. Picture the excitement of unraveling a thrilling mystery or plot together. Those are real, shared moments that will become cherished memories.

Think forward to the legacy you can begin today. Build reading traditions–which you may or may not have had yourself–that will be passed down through future generations.

In a world of distractions, reading together can be a powerful way to connect, grow, and overcome challenges together. Families that embark on this journey will build bonds and lay a foundation which will last a lifetime. With commitment, you and your children can enjoy all of the benefits of shared reading and family bonding. So, gather your kids, open a book, and let the magic of reading unfold, one page at a time.