The exposure to books and all the reading you have done for the foundation WILL carry over as they get older and more independant! Trust me - reading at bedtime if that is all you can do for now is better than nothing and that routine is priceless and will stay with them as they get older. I have verifiable proof that it works, and works well. :-)
When mine were a little bit older (6-10ish), I loved listening to middle grade audio books in the car with them. It was a great way to squeeze in even more books.
Breakfast is the only time that has ever worked for me/us. Weekdays, weekends only if we (I) feel like it. Remember that even five minutes counts. One picture book. Two short poems. Let go of what you think it should look like and do what works for your family. Seasons of life change and so do kids (and it doesn’t get harder as they get older unless you believe it will).
Oof! The power of story we tell ourselves and how it can bend our futures! Thanks for the reminder to be gentle with the rearrange and reframing my mindset to keep a positive outlook! I’m excited (and nervous, can’t help it!) for what’s to come.
We love Toon Books! I adored I Lived Inside a Whale - wish it got more love last year, but happy to see people finding it! With 3 school-aged boys, we find reading books at breakfast works great, as Sarah mentioned. They primarily read/look at things by themselves, but occasionally I’ll read something short. We are still huge supporters of bedtime reading. Even at 12, 10, and 6 we make sure to squeeze in bedtime reading with child. It’s not always long, but it’s a great way to connect and unwind! I’m a new follower and am loving reading your thoughts on books and reading with kids ❤️
Thanks Megan! So so happy to have you following me and to get your thoughts and comments! I love the idea of reading at breakfast and know I could get there with practice. I’m so slow to wake in the mornings I feel like I’m barely ready to talk until 10am. lol. What’s your favorite Toon Book? We’ve checked out two so far and they were both hits, so I’m sure we will be on the lookout for more. I Lived Inside a Whale captured all of our hearts, I’m sure it will be one of those ones we check out again from the library.
My favorite Toon books so far are the ones by Liniers. I think we read 4 by him last year that were delightful. My son (6 years old) really enjoyed Wildflowers. Ironically, the one you posted by him I haven’t been able to find at our library, but I am going to keep looking.
I’ll have to see what others by him I can find! I grabbed it in a haze and can’t even figure out where it was shelved lol. Time to ask my friendly neighborhood librarian!
I read to one of my kids during the soaking part of his bath time. I also keep a stash of kid magazines in my purse, which are good for waiting for brother's practice to be over or concert to start, etc.
For protein: My kids like the busy work of shelling peanuts or pistachios. Mini kind bars or mini jerky sticks. Hummus and veggies.
A tub soak and read?! It’s weird if I ask you to do that for me too, right? Because that sounds amazzziing. I try to take books into tubs and just get confused on how to keep everything above water. Shelling the nuts! Smart! I’ve always gone for shells off but the shells are probably the motivation. Can’t wait to try it!
My 6 year old is a vivacious graphic novel reader who doesn’t love being read aloud to at the moment. His 4 year old sister loves read-alouds though, so sometimes on weekends we get a stack of books from the library and I’ll read some aloud to her within earshot of my son, who usually gets curious and then comes over for at least a story or two. He reads a lot at school, and at bedtime he and I read “together”, meaning we sit quietly next to each other in his room reading our own books to ourselves for 20-30 minutes, and sometimes we’ll stop to talk about the parts of his book he’s laughing about. I’d love to do more read-alouds with him but I also want to give him space to enjoy books in a way that works for him at this point.
I LOVE the read together party you have with your son for bedtime. Sharing and swapping parts of the books you love? Such an excellent way to keep the love of reading alive as they grow. Thanks for that! I also read library books in the vicinity of my older kid and he will wander over like a moth to flame. What are your son’s favorite graphic novels? We are always looking for new suggestions!
Aside from the Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (which I have a love/hate relationship with- they got him hooked on reading but he has picked up some not-nice words and habits from them) he loves the Scare School books, Twig Friends, and The Great Puptective. Also funny but much less rude language and bullying so I’m a fan of them too!
Yeah I have a hard time with Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy kid too though when my kids finds them I’m sure I’ll let him read them. We love Zita the Space Girl and Pea, Bee & Jay if you want more graphic novel like books that are fun!
And I have a feeling that your special non-bedtime book time will settle into a new rhythm again and again. It’s wild how routines and rituals can ebb and flow (coming to Book Party next week, actually, haha), BUT that connection you have with them through books will always be the rock. Because you care. (You know all this! But just had to say it!)
For protein snacks -- my mom made huge batches of Ritz crackers with HEAPS of peanut butter in between, then dipped in chocolate. The chocolate always made it seem like a dessert, but there was rarely too much added sugar, so it was good protein/carb. It was a favorite snack between school and swim practice.
Yummmmm!! We call Ritz “moon crackers” and my kids love them! They also love putting PB on things, but but but I think they would think I was a magical fairy mom if I started dipping things in chocolate! You may have just cracked the code. ✨
Mealtimes work for us for busy days; if my kid wants to play with me, I offer up a book instead; once they can read independently, I’m okay with her reading in the car or on errands. Also, I don’t sweat if days go by with no book. It’s a marathon! Also, hi! 👋 🥰
Hi back! Coming out of the holiday haze? Me too! I guess my older kid is choosing independent reading more and more too and it both thrills me and makes me miss the cuddles. 🥰
The exposure to books and all the reading you have done for the foundation WILL carry over as they get older and more independant! Trust me - reading at bedtime if that is all you can do for now is better than nothing and that routine is priceless and will stay with them as they get older. I have verifiable proof that it works, and works well. :-)
Barely glancing up from my own book to write this comment, mom. 😜 you know I love you and all the ways you raised us to love reading!!
When mine were a little bit older (6-10ish), I loved listening to middle grade audio books in the car with them. It was a great way to squeeze in even more books.
Yes! Audiobooks are so great! I use them in the car when we don’t want to jam to the tunes!
Breakfast is the only time that has ever worked for me/us. Weekdays, weekends only if we (I) feel like it. Remember that even five minutes counts. One picture book. Two short poems. Let go of what you think it should look like and do what works for your family. Seasons of life change and so do kids (and it doesn’t get harder as they get older unless you believe it will).
Oof! The power of story we tell ourselves and how it can bend our futures! Thanks for the reminder to be gentle with the rearrange and reframing my mindset to keep a positive outlook! I’m excited (and nervous, can’t help it!) for what’s to come.
I promise you that it just keeps getting better and better.
We love Toon Books! I adored I Lived Inside a Whale - wish it got more love last year, but happy to see people finding it! With 3 school-aged boys, we find reading books at breakfast works great, as Sarah mentioned. They primarily read/look at things by themselves, but occasionally I’ll read something short. We are still huge supporters of bedtime reading. Even at 12, 10, and 6 we make sure to squeeze in bedtime reading with child. It’s not always long, but it’s a great way to connect and unwind! I’m a new follower and am loving reading your thoughts on books and reading with kids ❤️
Thanks Megan! So so happy to have you following me and to get your thoughts and comments! I love the idea of reading at breakfast and know I could get there with practice. I’m so slow to wake in the mornings I feel like I’m barely ready to talk until 10am. lol. What’s your favorite Toon Book? We’ve checked out two so far and they were both hits, so I’m sure we will be on the lookout for more. I Lived Inside a Whale captured all of our hearts, I’m sure it will be one of those ones we check out again from the library.
My favorite Toon books so far are the ones by Liniers. I think we read 4 by him last year that were delightful. My son (6 years old) really enjoyed Wildflowers. Ironically, the one you posted by him I haven’t been able to find at our library, but I am going to keep looking.
I’ll have to see what others by him I can find! I grabbed it in a haze and can’t even figure out where it was shelved lol. Time to ask my friendly neighborhood librarian!
I read to one of my kids during the soaking part of his bath time. I also keep a stash of kid magazines in my purse, which are good for waiting for brother's practice to be over or concert to start, etc.
For protein: My kids like the busy work of shelling peanuts or pistachios. Mini kind bars or mini jerky sticks. Hummus and veggies.
A tub soak and read?! It’s weird if I ask you to do that for me too, right? Because that sounds amazzziing. I try to take books into tubs and just get confused on how to keep everything above water. Shelling the nuts! Smart! I’ve always gone for shells off but the shells are probably the motivation. Can’t wait to try it!
We also love a bathtime read aloud! And meat sticks!
My 6 year old is a vivacious graphic novel reader who doesn’t love being read aloud to at the moment. His 4 year old sister loves read-alouds though, so sometimes on weekends we get a stack of books from the library and I’ll read some aloud to her within earshot of my son, who usually gets curious and then comes over for at least a story or two. He reads a lot at school, and at bedtime he and I read “together”, meaning we sit quietly next to each other in his room reading our own books to ourselves for 20-30 minutes, and sometimes we’ll stop to talk about the parts of his book he’s laughing about. I’d love to do more read-alouds with him but I also want to give him space to enjoy books in a way that works for him at this point.
I LOVE the read together party you have with your son for bedtime. Sharing and swapping parts of the books you love? Such an excellent way to keep the love of reading alive as they grow. Thanks for that! I also read library books in the vicinity of my older kid and he will wander over like a moth to flame. What are your son’s favorite graphic novels? We are always looking for new suggestions!
Aside from the Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (which I have a love/hate relationship with- they got him hooked on reading but he has picked up some not-nice words and habits from them) he loves the Scare School books, Twig Friends, and The Great Puptective. Also funny but much less rude language and bullying so I’m a fan of them too!
Yeah I have a hard time with Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy kid too though when my kids finds them I’m sure I’ll let him read them. We love Zita the Space Girl and Pea, Bee & Jay if you want more graphic novel like books that are fun!
I haven’t heard of the other options, can’t wait to check them out!
Have y'all gotten into THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE ATE PIZZA?
We have not yet! There are so many books to explore. Putting it on the library list!
Truly SO many!
And I have a feeling that your special non-bedtime book time will settle into a new rhythm again and again. It’s wild how routines and rituals can ebb and flow (coming to Book Party next week, actually, haha), BUT that connection you have with them through books will always be the rock. Because you care. (You know all this! But just had to say it!)
Always need the reminder!! Thanks for saying it! XX
For protein snacks -- my mom made huge batches of Ritz crackers with HEAPS of peanut butter in between, then dipped in chocolate. The chocolate always made it seem like a dessert, but there was rarely too much added sugar, so it was good protein/carb. It was a favorite snack between school and swim practice.
Yummmmm!! We call Ritz “moon crackers” and my kids love them! They also love putting PB on things, but but but I think they would think I was a magical fairy mom if I started dipping things in chocolate! You may have just cracked the code. ✨
Mealtimes work for us for busy days; if my kid wants to play with me, I offer up a book instead; once they can read independently, I’m okay with her reading in the car or on errands. Also, I don’t sweat if days go by with no book. It’s a marathon! Also, hi! 👋 🥰
Hi back! Coming out of the holiday haze? Me too! I guess my older kid is choosing independent reading more and more too and it both thrills me and makes me miss the cuddles. 🥰