Supporting a Family Culture of Reading

Providing strong family support for rearing children as lifelong readers can be a challenge as the task often requires a change in family culture. A daily routine of self-selected reading—a habit of choosing to read during free time—can’t be assigned to or required of children; it must be a behavior that’s nurtured and becomes intrinsically motivated.

Role models needed

Parent education efforts can intentionally focus on changing family routines, but real change requires role models to which parents can relate.

Young families need to see, or better yet, connect with, other families that naturally and joyfully include reading in their home cultures. They need to know that their peers engage in natural, casual conversations that include all family members. They need to understand that scripted questions aren’t necessary to discuss books and reading. People just need a relaxed invitation to talk about what they’re reading individually and with their children.

Books add value 

One way to help families understand the value of books in the home and then to grasp how reading books together strengthens family relationships is to group families together to discuss the power of books and literacy, and to share about their reading experiences. Young parents should be encouraged to ask questions and express their interests and concerns about reading with their children with their peers in the same phase of parenting.

Everyone wins

The initial purpose of building a family culture of reading and encouraging social exchanges about reading and books initially should be to benefit young readers. Another reason is to spark connections and chats between families about what they’re reading, which can generate book sharing as common interests are discovered. In turn, this type of reading culture can power the development of book gardens that can spread far and wide in a community.