Sometime this week or next, lazy summer days will give way to school days and your family life will once again be dictated by school schedules, sports schedules, meetings, homework and a million other things. The start up can be stressful on everyone, so today, let’s not talk about implementing a regular reading routine in your home. Instead, I’d like to suggest that you simply look for “pockets of reading time” and take advantage of them.

What in the world are “pockets of reading time” you ask. Well, last year when I was trying to entice my students to make time for daily reading, we brainstormed those spaces in their day when they could read for just a few minutes if they had a book, magazine or device on hand. Here are some of the ideas these kiddos came up with:

• Waiting at the doctor’s or dentist’s office
• In the car (as long as you don’t get nauseous)
• In the bathroom (I loved that one!)
• Waiting for a parent (to get ready, stop talking, finish a chore, make a phone call)
• Waiting in the car
• Siblings sports’ practices
• While eating
• During commercials

You get the gist. Pockets of reading time are simply brief moments when you can read even though you may not have a lot of time.The point is, these small moments add up and before you know it, wasted time is changed into reading time. Give it a try. Brainstorm ideas with your child, then help them remember to always have a book or reading device available. This little habit can result in a huge volume of reading. It’s a quick and easy way to grow a reader.  Hope you will take the time to share any unique pockets of reading time you and your kids discover.Have a wonderful weekend!