How To Create A Reading Routine

by Stephanie Henderson Snyder

I am a creature of habit and I live by routines. I appreciate knowing what to expect – probably because there are so many uncertainties in life. I feel accomplished when my daily routines go according to plan.

Kids are much the same. Of course, it’s fun (and necessary!) to mix things up every once in a while, but I know from my teaching experience that littlebits, kids, pre-teens, and teenagers feel empowered and safe when a routine is in place at school. Think about how crazy students of all ages tend to act when they show up to school to see a substitute! They know that the routine is going to be disrupted, and this disruption can often lead to misbehavior or a lack of motivation. 

The same is true at home. We can make our littlebits feel empowered and safe as they fall in love with literacy. We can curb misbehavior and lack of motivation directed at reading. We can do this by creating and sticking to a reading routine. The way to get your littlebits to fall in love with books is to create a reading routine that is comfortable and consistent. Here’s how!

This may be before a nap or after a robust playtime. In our house, our reading routines revolve around sleep times, but this doesn’t mean that we don’t read books at other times of the day. Lucy just knows that before she naps and before she goes to bed at night, she’ll get to enjoy books. It is consistent. She knows what to expect, so she doesn’t fight the process because we do the same thing each day. In your family, maybe you’ll read each day between playtime and a snack, or after the snack before playtime resumes. Whenever it is, let it be a time of the day that you can commit to, but be ready to make adjustments when necessary because sometimes life gets in the way!

Find a cozy spot in your home. Maybe you cuddle up on the couch or in a book nook in your little one’s room. Let this be your daily reading place. Your child may want to get comfortable on your lap or in his or her own spot. Bring some comfort items: a milk or juice cup, a snack, a stuffed animal, or a snuggly blanket can add contentment to the reading experience.

Start off by sharing the title. You may even ask a question about the title, like “What do you think the book will be about?” Talk about the pictures along the way. For younger littlebits, you may point out and comment on details in the illustrations that are important to the story. For older littlebits, you may have them do it. Ask questions and talk about the story along the way. It’s never too early to start these good reading habits, even if you’re reading to an infant. It shows kids that reading is thinking.

At the same time, don’t feel like you need to have a scripted lesson plan for each book in your littlebit’s library. The process should be organic and enjoyable, even when regularly implemented. Make the reading experience fun by using different voices to distinguish between characters, adding sound effects, making facial expressions, singing the words, and letting your littlebit turn the pages.

You may move from reading time into a meal, playtime, or a nap. Regardless of what the next activity is, the more consistent you are, the easier the transition becomes.

We have done our routine so much that we even use the same vocabulary and language so that Lucy knows exactly what to do. Since we transition to naptime or bedtime after our reading routine, we tell Lucy, “Take your last sip of milk!” and then we say prayers, give kisses, and go to her room to tuck her into bed.

Before transitioning from your reading routine to another activity, track the books you read on the Littlebit Reading Log. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your list grows!

Let reading become a regular part of your littlebit’s life so that it isn’t an unfamiliar experience. If consistency is difficult for you, then think outside the box. Delegate the responsibility to someone else like an older sibling or maybe the caregiver who watches your child during the day. Perhaps you can plan your routine for three days a week instead of every day. The point is – like Nike says, “Just do it!”

We want littlebits to fall in love with reading. It shouldn’t feel like a task or chore. When we stick to a reading routine that is comfortable and consistent, our littlebits can then be inspired by books and all that they have to offer.