Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
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Grandparents have tremendous power to influence their grandchildren. Reading is the perfect arena to employ that influence because it gives children a lifetime of learning and fosters a strong family bond.
I am passionate about books and reading, in part, because I have grandparents who read. My grandparents have or had houses full of books, on the shelves and on their nightstands. My Grandpa Bills read to my siblings and me every time we visited as young children, and Grandma Bills kept her playroom stocked with children’s books. My Grandma Larsen was never without a paperback novel, and Grandpa Larsen religiously perused how-to woodcraft and art books.
My grandparents are a wealth of book knowledge and a valuable resource for reading suggestions. My sweet, quiet Grandma Larsen, who never imposed on anyone, shortly before her death handed me “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and said I must read it. I read it, loved it and will forever associate that book with her.
How to be a grandparent who reads
Spend time reading with your grandchildren, starting at birth and up through early chapter book age. Delaine Easton, California state superintendent of schools, said, “If you read to a child 20 minutes a day, that child will learn 1 million additional words a year and will gain 1,000 additional vocabulary words a year.”
Remember that 20 minutes is ideal, but any amount of time is beneficial. Small children may only sit for 5 minutes, whereas older children 30 minutes or more. Be sensitive to each child’s needs and skill level.
If you do not live close to your grandchildren, use technology to help you read to them. Either recordable storybooks, over the phone or video chatting like Skype.
Invite the reading process to be fun and interactive. Marilyn Kofford, a member of the Utah Governor’s Literacy Council, former owner of Seagull Book and a proud grandma, suggests, “Explore books, invite your grandchild into the book. Ask who, what, where, when, why and how. Talk about the book before, during and after reading it.”
With older grandchildren, teens and even adults, ask about what they are reading. Engage in conversations about books, make suggestions and share what you have enjoyed reading. Nothing is more effective in teaching than example. The more examples of readers a child has in her life, the more likely she is to be a reader herself. Kofford said, “Be a role model. Let your grandchildren see you reading.”
Take grandchildren on outings and host activities that support reading skills, such as going to the library, attending story times, visiting museums, etc.
“Help grandchildren to be aware of where they are, what information is available and then encourage them to read what they can. In a cafe, help them read the menu, in a museum or historical site, help them read the signs and information, etc.,” Kofford suggests.
She also suggests having summer reading challenges in which you provide prizes and rewards.
Create a print-rich environment for your grandchildren. In your own home, keep baskets of board books for small children and low-level bookshelves of picture books for older children. Bulk up your library with all kinds of books so that any-age grandchild can peruse and borrow. Some grandparents provide a “grandma library” and allow grandchildren to check out and return books on a regular basis.
Also, help grandchildren build their own libraries by making books or magazine subscriptions your go-to birthday and holiday gifts.
My own children are benefitting from grandparents who read. All their grandparents, including three great-grandparents, read with them often, give books as gifts, have houses full of books and make reading a fun priority. I see the positive results of their efforts as my children love and adore books and reading (and their grandparents).
“Reading together is a wonderful time to bond, to cuddle, give hugs and find peace with one another. It is a time to encourage, nurture, help, laugh, have fun and aid each other along the way with reading and challenges in life,” Kofford said.
Even little efforts can have a big impact. The bond formed over books lasts a lifetime. Be a grandparent who reads and help your grandchildren be kids who read. So one day they can be parents and grandparents who read. A happy reading legacy.
Book calendar
The King's English Bookshop: Santa at the bookshop, every Saturday in December, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. For more events, visit the bookshop's website.
Dolly's Bookstore: Local author holiday event, Dec. 18, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more info and more events, visit the store's website.
Deseret Book: 45 West Temple, author Lark Burbidge, "A Piece of Silver," Dec. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Purple Cow Bookstore: Storytime — Gingerbread Friends, Dec. 16, 11:30 a.m.
Teri Harman writes and reads from home amid the chaos of three young children. Her bi-weekly column, Book Matters, appears on ksl.com and in the Deseret News. For more book fun, visit book-matters.com
