January was a busy month and my good intentions to post several times a week simply fell by the wayside. Isn’t that usually the way it works?  Okay, so I can just give up or recommit to this venture. I’m choosing to recommit but this time, I’ll do it differently. This time, I’m going to establish a routine. I’ll start small and promise to post at least once a week for the next six weeks. Look for my posts every Wednesday…Promise, they’ll be here!

Now, how about you? Are you ready to commit to a reading routine that will begin to make a difference in your life and the life of your child?  Here are some simple ideas. Start small, but start. Let me know how it goes…

• Even kids like to have a date. With Valentine’s Day coming up, this is the perfect time to institute a “Reading Date”. Have your child choose several books they would like you to read aloud. Then view the calendar together and create your “Reading Dates” for the week or the month ahead.
• Commit to taking your child to the library (or book store) at least one time this month. Hopefully, this will become a routine.
• Valentine Surprise: Commit to reading one picture book or short story each day this week. Ask your child to pick a list of titles he loves.  Write one title on the calendar for each day of the week then cover them with a heart sticker. Each day, your child can remove the sticker to reveal the surprise read of the day. A great way to say, “I love you”,  and help your child to “Love” books.
• If you have an older child, commit to reading part of a book he is reading and talk about it at least once a week. Sharing a book creates a common experience, so you’ll get a lot of “bang for your buck” with this strategy.