Raising Readers at Home

At Children’s Day, we know that reading is more than learning letters or mastering sight words—it’s about connection, imagination, and building a lifelong love of learning. March is Read Across America Month, a nationwide celebration of literacy inspired by Dr. Seuss’s birthday, and the perfect time to reflect on the power of reading with young children.

Reading together at home—even just 10 minutes a day—nurtures your child’s brain development, language skills, and emotional growth. According to Zero to Three, the simple act of sharing stories builds the foundation for school readiness by supporting vocabulary, comprehension, and empathy. It also creates comforting routines and moments of joy for families.

So, how can you support your child’s growing love of books? Here are a few simple, research-backed tips from early childhood experts:

Make Reading Part of Your Daily Routine

Consistency matters! Whether it’s a story before bedtime or after breakfast, create a special time every day when your child knows it’s “reading time.”

Let Your Child Choose the Book

Children are more engaged when they get to pick. Don’t worry if they pick the same book five nights in a row—repetition helps build comprehension and memory.

Read With Expression

Use silly voices, sound effects, or dramatic pauses. According to NAEYC, this not only keeps children interested but also helps them understand the rhythm and emotion of language.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

Instead of only reading the words, pause to ask: “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think the character feels?” This builds critical thinking skills.

Connect Stories to Real Life

Relating books to your child’s world—like reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar and then looking for caterpillars outside—helps deepen their understanding and curiosity.

Keep Books Accessible

Create a cozy reading corner or basket within reach. The more children see books around them, the more likely they are to explore them independently.

Recommended Books to Get Started:

  • The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

  • Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

  • We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom

  • Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (a Read Across America classic!)

At the heart of it, reading together is about creating moments of connection with your child. As Dr. Seuss famously said:

"You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."

This month, at Children’s Day Preschool, we celebrated Read Across America by launching a fun Reading at Home Competition—challenging families to read as many books as they could together. Parents joined in, reading aloud each night and logging their stories to help their child’s classroom compete for the title of “Most Books Read.”

We invite all families to celebrate Read Across America by finding new ways to make books a joyful part of your daily life. Your child is learning that stories are not just for school—they are for home, for bonding, and for fun.

Susan Dannemiller