It goes without saying that family time is a key part of Mother’s Day celebrations, so why not use the holiday to encourage a healthy habit? Enter: reading, a brilliant way to pass the time that not only allows the family to bond but also benefits everyone – now and in the future.
Why to read with your kids
Aside from using books as a way to celebrate Mother’s Day, there are so many wonderful reasons to read with kids. It is a great way to sneak in some quality time and can also help your child to develop life skills.
Research suggests that reading to four-to-five-year-old children every day can positively impact more than just their reading skills. Daily reading also has a positive impact on cognitive skills including language, literacy, numeracy and cognition later in life.
Beyond cognition, the Child Mind Institute suggests that being read aloud to from a young age also benefits kids in several ways.
- Developing empathy: as kids read stories in books, they learn to appreciate lifestyles and perspectives that may differ from their own
- Bonding: reading is the perfect excuse to slow down and spend time together
- Education: books teach children about the world
How childhood reading builds lifelong habits
By using holidays like Mother’s Day as an excuse to read together, you can help your little one create a reading habit early on. While you might think that your kid is too young to pick up on lifelong habits, studies suggest that children’s habit-formation can begin as young as one-and-a-half years old. By incorporating reading into a child’s life early on, you give them a head start on forming a reading habit that can carry them through adolescence and into adulthood.
For Australian adults, a lack of time is the biggest barrier to reading, but by learning the value of books early, kids might be more likely to make time for reading as they grow up.
Mother’s Day books to ignite the spark
Using a holiday like Mother’s Day is the perfect way to warm kids up to the idea of reading. Take advantage of the family togetherness by suggesting everyone read a book together.
Choosing a book related to Mother’s Day is a great way to keep spirits high, enjoy the special day dedicated to Mum, and set the foundations for future reading sessions.
Recommended Mother’s Day books:
Peppa Pig: My Mummy is Amazing
Join Peppa and her friends as they celebrate their amazing mummies!
I Love Grandma with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Celebrate grandmas and nannies everywhere with The Very Hungry Caterpillar in this beautiful little hardback gift book!
I Love Mum with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This gorgeous little gift book from The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the perfect way to say ‘I love you, Mum!’
Spot Loves His Mum by Eric Hill
Join Spot and Mum on their day together.
Peter Rabbit I Love You Mummy by Beatrix Potter
A Peter Rabbit book with a heart-warming rhyme that celebrates mummies everywhere.
Peter Rabbit I Love You Grandma by Beatrix Potter
A charming Peter Rabbit book to celebrate Grandmas.
Bluey: What Would Bluey’s Mum Do?
What would Bluey’s Mum do? Find out all the answers for real life with Chilli’s very own checklist.
Bluey and Bingo are playing Queens but they both want to be the butler. Who will have to wear the crown?
Meet baby Bluey as she learns to walk with her friends. Will Mum help her win the baby race?
Bluey and Bingo love their mum and she loves them! Discover all of Chilli’s special mum skills in this touching and humorous book.
Bluey wants to play Mum School instead of having her bath. But will the kids listen to her?
Join Bluey and Bingo as they try to answer the question: can grannies dance?
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