As a parent or someone in a parenting role, you play an essential role in your child’s success. There are intentional ways to grow a healthy parent-child relationship, and building reading skills is a great way to do it.

Reading is essential for your child’s success in school. Reading also plays a critical role in your child’s

● social and emotional development[1]

● language development

● executive functions like working memory and self-control ^1^

● connection to you

● empathy and understanding of others

● imagination (ability to “see” the story) ^2^

● ability to choose healthy behaviors (preventing high-risk behaviors and unhealthy choices)

Children ages five to ten are in the process of learning how to read and establishing critical learning habits through reading that will extend throughout their school years. Reading is learned best on a lap, snuggled closely in the arms of parents, grandparents, and other loved ones. Reading aloud to children is the most important activity for building skills essential for reading success. ^3^

Yet, anyone can face challenges in establishing a daily reading routine with their children. A national survey found that only 34% of families read to children daily.^4 Families today are busier than ever with more demands on their time.

Children are highly entertained and stimulated by technology, so even if a family does prioritize reading, children might fight it. You might hear, “Do we have to?” when you announce reading time after dinner. While it may take more encouragement than past generations to start a daily reading routine with your child, it can be a joyful experience, enrich your family life, and promote valuable skills for school and life success. The steps below include specific, practical strategies and effective conversation starters to support family reading cooperatively.

Becoming intentional about a daily reading routine, looking for ways to incorporate reading into your time spent together, and considering the quality of the reading experience can all contribute to your child’s development.

Today, in the short term, reading can create

● greater opportunities for connection and enjoyment

● opportunity for dialogue and reflection

● a direct and simple way to influence your child’s positive development

Tomorrow, in the long term, reading helps your child

● build skills in collaboration and cooperative goal-setting

● build skills in hard work and persistence

● develop empathy, creative thinking, and responsible decision-making skills

● create positive learning habits that contribute directly to school success

This five-step process helps your family establish a routine for daily reading and builds important skills in your child. The same process can also be used to address other parenting issues (learn more about the process)[2] .

Tip: These steps are best when you and your child are not tired or in a rush.

Tip: Intentional communication[3] and a healthy...