Reading your way through Christmas break
It would be easy for your student to glide through Christmas break simply playing with new toys and games, watching their favorite movies and shows, or visiting family—and there’s certainly a place for all of those fun activities over the holidays. But to help enrich your child’s school break, encourage your child to spend some time reading over the holidays, too.
Reading—either together or individually—will help your child stay in practice for when school restarts, may help fulfill yearly reading requirements, and can provide you and your child with some fun discussions over the break. Here are a few suggestions on titles to get you going.
For your youngest readers, those first through third graders, consider starting the Boxcar Children series—a series of stories about four orphaned children who initially house themselves in an abandoned boxcar until they are united with their grandfather. You can either read the first book together or let your child read it independently if they are able to do so. For even more fun, let your child read it to you. The series by Gertrude Chandler Warner has long-captivated readers and may entice your child to keep reading along to find out what new adventures lie ahead for Jessie, Violet, Henry, and Benny.
For readers between fourth and sixth grades, the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis will give your student the chance to explore a historical event through the eyes of a fictionalized child. Book topics range from eruption of Mount St. Helens to the Civil War battle at Gettysburg. These books may be even more interesting to your child if they’ve studied—or will be studying—any of the events this school year.
If your child hasn’t started the Chronicles of Narnia series already, get your middle school reader started now. The books by C.S. Lewis explore the fantastical world of Narnia and highlight themes such as the triumph of good over evil, sacrifice, and forgiveness. If you can get your child reading fast enough, you may even be able to set up a family movie night to watch one or two of the film adaptations once they’ve finished the books.
And for your oldest readers, consider a thought-provoking novel like John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” or Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World.” While these novels should be reserved for mature readers, they can provide deep discussions into important issues like the role of communities and self-sacrifice or the role of government and the pursuit of perfection. These discussions are already happening on some level around your student—through social media and with their friends—so why not provide a path to having those discussions at home with you, too?
No matter what book you or your children choose to read over the holidays—whether serious or lighthearted, simply getting your child to read will go a long way in encouraging them to expand their world through literature. And don’t forget, often the best way to get your child reading is to set a good example. Pick up a book yourself and, if appropriate, talk to your child about what you’re reading and learning as a result.