Family Book Night

Reading is an enjoyable activity.  It can be even more fun when it becomes a family activity.  The family gets quality time together as they experience the wonder of books.  It also helps those that are struggling with reading when they see the whole family involved.

Pick a night of the week that is family book night.  This should be a night that has the least conflict.  Be realistic going into this.  There will be weeks when a family member here and there misses a gathering.  Keep the night going.  Don’t postpone it.  Once it gets postponed, it is hard to get it started again.

After the day has been set, choose a book.  You don’t want one that will be over everyone’s heads except for the adults.  Take into account the ages of your family.  If you have children ages 8, 12, and 14, you could easily read Treasure Island or The Hobbit.  Got a younger child?  The Hobbit could still work.  Any of the Little House Series are great, too.  Really young children will do will with Dr. Seuss books (in fact, many adults really love them).

If you want to guide your children into the wonders of classics, there are several to choose from: Alice in Wonderland, CaddieWoodlawn, Incredible Journey, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Secret Garden, Talesof Troy and Greece, Tom Sawyer, Anne of Green Gables, Three Musketeers, EdgarAllen Poe’s stories.  There are so many choices out there for you.

Make sure that there are no distractions.  Turn the TV off.  No video games. No MP3 players.  Everyone should be focusing on the story.

The room should be conducive to a family reading night.  Maybe in front of a warm fire or sitting out on the porch with a summer breeze is the best location.  If you are on a vacation, read around the camp fire or sitting under the shadow of Mt. Rushmore.

Before you begin, lay out the rules.  Will everyone take turns reading or will only one person be the narrator?  Can children ask questions after each chapter?  There should be a time for them to ask questions as some things you are reading about will be new and mysterious to them.  

Will you be reading a chapter each time or read until bed time?  All of this needs to be decided on so that on the first family reading night, you can focus on the story and not be arguing over the rules.

Family reading night will become a time that everyone looks forward to.  They will enjoy being with each other and hearing of adventures.  In fact, if there were not interested in reading before, they might after a few family nights.