If you’re a parent constantly trying to create the best kind of learning experiences for your child but are often faced with the guilt of “Am I doing enough?” then this is for you! Navigating the overwhelming number of academic activities, crafts, and picture book lists online to provide academic support to your kiddos can be exhausting and frustrating. The extensive amount of time it takes to create Pinterest-worthy activities is not comparable to the little rewards and results that come from such activities. There is another way!

There is an easier, more efficient way to build a culture around literacy and learning at home. One that is more holistic and authentic.

By tweaking your family’s daily routines, changing the way you talk about literacy and learning, and making space for literacy experiences to occur, you can start connecting, learning, and growing more positively as a family. Here are 5 tips for bringing more literacy (and joy!) into your home.

Keep a variety of texts easily accessible

You already know the importance of reading with your children. The trick is to make reading fun - something you get to do, not something you have to do. One way to help foster a positive outlook on reading is to give your child ownership of what they read. Magazines, recipe books, joke books, nonfiction books, fantasies, and graphic novels all count as reading. Allow your child to follow their interests and passions and keep all kinds of reading materials everywhere - in your bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and car. Remember to pack books for long trips, waiting rooms, and picnics too! Take advantage of public and school libraries whenever possible. Book lists organized by theme or topic are available on my Amazon Shop. (all links are affiliate links)

Write notes to one another

I am a big believer in authentic literacy activities - ones that take place in the context of real-life and have a purpose or audience. Leave your child notes throughout the day and encourage them to write back to you. Show the youngest learners how to communicate with pictures and labels. Keep letter-writing materials and stamps handy so children can write to friends and family near and far at a moment’s notice. A fresh pack of blank cards, envelopes, and scented gel pens help bring excitement to letter-writing! Does your child have a favorite author, illustrator, athlete, or musician? Encourage your child to write to them!

Try a literacy-friendly family game night

There are so many great board games that support literacy skills. Some of my favorite games for early readers to play at home are Apples to Apples, Rory's Story Cubes, Boggle Junior, and My First Bananagrams. My kids love Trolls World Tour Monopoly Junior and I’m happy that they are motivated to decode new words on the Chance cards on their own! Find more literacy-friendly games on my Amazon Shop.

Cook together

There are so many benefits to cooking as a family, including getting picky eaters more excited to try new foods! Cooking exposes kids to new vocabulary and requires reading, measuring, sorting, planning, organization, and social skills. It also prioritizes family time and breaks stereotypes about the roles of family members. Find kid-friendly cookbooks on my Amazon Shop. I also love using kid-safe knives.

Model good reading and writing habits

Have you ever seen a toddler pick up a toy phone and chat away like they are talking to their BFF? Kids are natural copy cats! Model good reading and writing habits for your children and watch them follow your lead. Read your own books, magazines, newspapers, and blog posts in front of your child. Talk about the books you like, the books you don’t like, and the books you can’t wait to read. Keep a journal or make a point to write to-do lists and notes in front of your children.

How have you been successful in bringing more literacy into your home?

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