Read, read, read

Reading is one of the best activities to do any time of the year, but if you're in an area where winter means cold and snow, then reading is an excellent choice for an activity. The weather certainly isn't stopping you from grabbing a book to read.

You can sit down on your couch, grab a blanket, and read a great book - when it's cold outside it's extremely relaxing to be able to do this. Of course, you should also read to your kids, and encourage them to read as well. Kids of all ages can enjoy reading. Even a toddler can look through a pile of books.

Have your kids read

For kids that are old enough and able, have them read on their own. Having a dedicated time for reading everyday is a great way to improve their reading level. Practice is the best way for them to get better at reading and improve their overall reading level. Make sure you have enough books for them to read in your home.

If you need books, make sure to check your local library. If you don't want to spend a ton of time in the library chasing your child around, then you should be able to check out the books online and have them held for you so you just have to step inside and pick them up. Get several books for you and your kids at one time so that you don’t have to make as many trips.

Read to your kids

If your child isn’t old enough to read on their own, make sure you’re reading to them. Even for children that can read, you should also read to them a bit each day. Choose books for your kids that will keep them engaged, but also challenge them to stretch their understanding as well. Younger children will need more pictures to stay engaged.

Include reading to your kids as part of your everyday routine. Perhaps your kids read for 15 minutes on their own, and then you read to them for 15 minutes. You can do this reading back to back, or split it up so that they’re not right after each other. Some kids struggle to read and then listen to reading one right after the other, so do what works for you and your family.

Read to yourself

Don’t forget to read books that you want to read as well. While your kids are reading their books, grab a book you want to read and read it to yourself. It’s definitely hard to find time to read as a parent, but there are definitely opportunities if you seek them out. Rather than looking at your phone while your kids read, grab a book that you want to read and dive in.

If you read while your kids read, you’ll likely find that they’re more inclined to read as well. Let your kids know that it’s reading time, and that everyone is going to read their own books. Try to focus during this time on your book.

Conclusion

Reading is great no matter the time of year. It doesn't matter if it's hot or cold outside, you should make sure your child is reading, and you should try to read some on your own as well.