Make Reading Fun: Create a New Holiday Tradition

Since Thanksgiving, most of you have been pulling the decorations out of the attic and setting them up in preparation for the big holiday. While unpacking those boxes of decorations, I’m sure you ran across some of the old Christmas story favorites - Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, The First Christmas, the Nutcracker - the list goes on. Well, we are all very familiar with these stories, so I think many of us allow the season to go by without even dusting them off.

Here’s an idea to get those books read and have an enjoyable slow down moment with your family. Wrap up each book in Christmas paper. Place the wrapped books in a basket and set them under the tree. Each night, allow your kids to choose the wrapped book that they would like to read. Turn off the TV, make some hot chocolate and sit with your kids and read the story with them. I promise, that you will enjoy that “break” with your kids. What better way to end a busy day of work, school or shopping than to curl up on the couch with your kids and read a book.

Add an additional element of surprise for your kids. Add some new books to your collection. Christmas Around the World, by L. Sims is nice book because describes the holiday traditions of those in other countries. The Usborne Book Of Christmas Poems by S. Taplin would be a delightful addition to your collection. Maybe one night you would like to bake some cookies to enjoy while you read those lovely books - try Christmas Cooking (R. Glilpin and C. Atkinson) or Christmas Fairy Cooking (L. Pratt and C. Atkinson) for the little darlings in your life. These books and many more can be found at www.ubah.com/k2841 Enjoy those holiday books and Merry Christmas!