Reading is an adventure! March is National Reading Month, a great chance to remember how exciting and magical reading can be. Have you decided how you’ll celebrate National Reading Month? Let us help! Try our tips for fun ways to get everybody reading.

1. Travel With Your Mind. Reading can transport you instantly, from wherever you may be to wherever you can imagine. Try using reading to launch exciting adventures and explore the world. Allow everyone to close their eyes and randomly choose a spot on a map or globe, and then read about that place! Or read stories about explorers, travelers, adventurers, survivors, researchers, and pioneers.

2. Pick Fun Topics. Everyone can choose the subjects that interest them. It can be whatever they find fascinating: otters, dinosaurs, rocks, rainbows, anything. Then read books, stories, and articles related to the topic, and have fun with topic-related activities!

3. Go Through Your Books. Have everyone chose books from your own home library. Read whatever looks interesting to you as you go along! You’ll all be surprised what fascinating things you’ll uncover.

4. Do a Reading Challenge. Check out helpful instructions at www.learninga-z.com for completing reading challenges. The goal is just for everybody to read more and have fun.

5. Read Aloud. Even if it’s only for 15 minutes each day, choose a book and read it aloud! Reading aloud develops fundamental reading skills, promotes social interactions, and improves vocabulary, word recognition, listening comprehension, and cognitive development.

6. Try Reading Rewards. Everybody appreciates incentives. What’s better than a prize for a job well done? Rewards for your child’s reading accomplishments can be                                          anything from a pizza party to special certificates or anything else your child would enjoy.

7. Read Something You Love. Ask your child to tell you their favorite books: maybe their favorite choice from this month or this year, or maybe their favorite book of all time. Then use National Reading Month to share and read everyone’s favorite stories!

Bonus tip: If your child is comfortable, they can explain the reasons why they love the book they’ve chosen. It can be 1) a great chance to learn more about each other, and also 2) an opportunity for you to demonstrate the idea that everyone has their own tastes, their own unique reasoning for the choices they make, their own individual approach to answering any question.

The importance of reading extends far beyond educational development. Reading improves memory, increases cognitive function, builds empathy, lowers stress, and promotes positive mental health. Enjoy all the benefits of reading during National Reading Month and throughout the year!