Happy December and welcome to this month’s edition of Smart Story Time!
We love sharing ideas and inspiration for fresh reading material for you and your child, as well as ways to mix literacy learning into your days together. From exposing them to print and teaching them letter sounds to introducing them to new subjects, vocabulary, and ideas, your interactions are crucial to helping them blossom as a reader. Enjoy!
Here are some reading suggestions to delve into with your child this month:
The Real Santa by Nancy Redd
What does Santa Claus really look like? Nancy Redd’s beautiful children’s book, The Real Santa, features one boy’s quest to find out. This volume, with its very special take on representation and its joyful spirit, is our top pick for Christmas reads for kids this year. It would make a great holiday gift, but don’t wait to share it with your child. You could get a copy at your local library to read aloud and save your own brand-new edition for Christmas morning.
Be sure to check out Maya’s chat with Nancy Redd about the book, the importance of representation in kids’ stories, and the behind-the-scenes process of creating a picture book. Nancy shares so much about how she came up with the story, what it means to her, and how a children’s author creates the books we all love to read.
Picture Books for the Holiday Season
Your local librarian or independent bookstore can help you find a wonderful and diverse selection of kids’ books related to any holiday that you want to celebrate or teach your kids about. You’ll find too many fabulous Christmas and Hanukkah books for us to list—plus a growing number of quality titles about Kwanzaa to help you mark or learn about this seven-day celebration with roots in the harvest festivals of Africa.
To get you started, though, early childhood educator Chrysta Naron put together a lovely list of Christmas and Kwanzaa books (plus one New Year’s read) by black authors, and Kwanzaa educator Jessica “Culture Queen” Hebron recommends five lovely Kwanzaa picture books to check out. Happy Holidays!
Holiday Recipes for Kids
Our Read With Me Recipe series features printable recipes that are easy for kids to make and read. Simple words and short sentences in an easy font set your little one up for reading success. Just print the recipe PDF and read it together as you cook. (We also share tips for using the recipes to maximize reading and learning in each recipe post.)
The idea is to make it easy for you to mix reading and writing into everyday life with your kids. This kind of “everyday literacy” is key to raising thriving readers. This holiday season, try our DIY christmas ornament recipe and latke recipe for kids.
Anything You & Your Child Love for Jolabokaflod
In Iceland, there’s a wonderful holiday tradition called Jolabokaflod, which means “Christmas book flood.” It’s all about giving, receiving, and reading books as a way to celebrate. Read all about it in this Jolabokaflod article and get tips for starting your family’s own book flood tradition.
Then browse our Kids Books section for ideas of great reads to add to your flood. We’ve got reading lists tailored to all kinds of interests, from sports to science, animals to humor to fantasy and imagination, and so much more.
We also have lists designed to support development of key literacy knowledge and social-emotional skills. For example, you’ll find recommended kids’ reads selected to foster body positivity and self-love and empathy, as well as to help kids deal with grief. On the skills side, you’ll find ABC books, titles that build print awareness in the youngest listeners, and picture books about starting school, among others.
We’ll be back next month with a new iteration of Smart Story Time, redesigned for the new year!
New to MayaSmart.com?
Welcome! It’s lovely to have you here. I’m Maya, an author, literacy advocate, and mom. On this site, I publish articles, advice, book recommendations, and activities for busy parents. Through it all, my goal is to help parents like you feel equipped and confident to support your children in reading. Let’s start by understanding what you bring to the effort—your unique superpower.
Happy November and welcome to this month’s edition of Smart Story Time!
Every month, we curate some of our best recommendations for timely topics to read about with your child, plus diverse picture books (and more) to delve into together. The goal is to give you plenty of ideas to keep your family reading time fresh and introduce your child to new subjects and vocabulary.
Check out this list, then head out to find some great new-to-you kids’ reads at your local library or independent bookstore. Here’s what we’re reading this month:
Thanksgiving Picture Books
What are you thankful for this year? We know what we’re giving thanks for: the shared joy of story time. When we cuddle up our little ones and enjoy a pile of books together, we make priceless memories to cherish every day. This month, we’re building memories and gratitude by reading thoughtful books about Thanksgiving and the concepts we want it to embody for our families. There are so many aspects of the holiday to explore, from history and inclusiveness to giving thanks, the value of simple time with loved ones, and—of course—cooking.
Think about what matters to you and then seek out some recommendations from your local librarian or bookstore owner. Also try these Thanksgiving picture-book picks from Chrysta Naron (click the link and scroll down to learn more): The Thankful Book by Todd Parr and Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet, plus some wonderful books by and about Indigenous Americans (more on this below!).
Bonus:
- Tutorial: Teach kids gratitude and spelling with adorable paper-chain animals
- Free printable: DIY turkey letter-matching game
Kids’ Books By and About Indigenous Americans
We advocate including books by and about Indigenous Americans in your child’s book rotation all year long, but interest naturally peaks in November. Your child may have questions about the origin of Thanksgiving or the history they’ve heard about in school and elsewhere. The holiday also offers an entry point into the topic for children.
Read this post about how to choose great reads to introduce Indigenous American authors and stories to your little one, and then be sure to scroll down in the post to find recommendations of some excellent books to get you started. Also check out Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac—you’ll find a write-up of this one near the bottom of the Favorite Picture Books for Fall Holidays post!
Books to Set the Scene for Fun with Relatives
This time of year often brings a whole bunch of family time, frequently including visits with extended family. Big gatherings and family meals. Going to stay with relatives, or hosting them at our homes. And gathering and reconnecting with loved ones near and far, within and across generations, is a source of great joy. It can also represent an upheaval: sharing space, dealing with differences, and getting along with others, to name a few. Not to mention handling a bunch of extra noise and chaos on the one hand and different rules or expectations on the other.
As with just about any subject under the sun, we believe that sharing a book is among the absolute best ways to broach this topic with your kids. A great story can simultaneously validate children’s feelings while gently helping them see how to resolve, accept, or evolve them. The truly great ones will even help us parents, too. Read this post to get some tips for using picture books to prepare your child for time with extended family, and help tip the scales away from stress and towards joy for your family this holiday season.
And (Always) Books Your Child Loves
In addition to reading books that tackle timely topics or important subjects, be sure to follow your child’s interests, as well. If your kid loves sports, science or animals, read plenty of books on those topics to keep them engaged and help you build a close, responsive relationship. Check out our other kids’ book lists and articles for curated reading lists on various topics.
We’ll be back next month with the next installment of Smart Story Time. Meanwhile, feel free to message Maya with requests for future posts, book recommendations, or just to say hi!
New to MayaSmart.com?
Welcome! It’s lovely to have you here. I’m Maya, an author, literacy advocate, and mom. On this site, I publish articles, advice, book recommendations, and activities for busy parents. Through it all, my goal is to help parents like you feel equipped and confident to support your children in reading. Let’s start by understanding what you bring to the effort—your unique superpower.
What unique words or funny sayings has your child come out with? Share them on social media and tag Maya Smart (scroll down for social media links) or email them to Maya!
When Maya Angelou said that a writer has to “take the most used, most familiar objects—nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs—ball them together and make them bounce,” she could have just as easily been talking about children.
That’s because children make it their mission, as writers do, to play with language. It’s how they understand and learn it. And wordplay, like so many forms of play, comes naturally to them. Just listen to any three-year-old skitting their way through a made-up song. You’ll witness them bend and break linguistic rules, mash sounds together, alliterate, and create entirely new words with an unselfconscious fluidity to leave grown poets and writers in awe.
Long before they start understanding written words, wordplay helps children build vocabulary and improve phonological awareness—the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken language, an important skill for literacy. And, perhaps most crucially, it also opens up the creative possibilities and joys of language. So, celebrate and encourage wordplay with your little ones, and they’ll soon be laughing and learning.
Not sure where to start? We’ve gathered together a few easy verbal wordplay ideas to build into your family’s daily life. Because they’re verbal, you can play them anywhere, anytime—in the car, at mealtimes, during everyday routines. There’s no need for props or pens (unless you want them and they add to the fun, of course). A bonus for book-lovers? Often there are ways to bring the games back to your shared reading. Try perusing old favorites with an eye for wordplay or extending story time with a game.
Note: One of the most satisfying things about wordplay is bending and breaking “rules.” So develop these games as you like, or to add more challenge for older kids. Even better: Make up your own (we’d love to hear your suggestions)! Ready to have fun?
Rhyming Ping Pong
The beauty of this word game lies in its simplicity, which means even very young kids will love it. One player starts with a word, e.g. cat, then the other responds with a word that rhymes, e.g. bat. The players go back and forth until one can no longer think of a rhyming word. Then you declare a winner or move on to another rhyming sound. That’s it!
This one’s also very easy to relate back to whatever it is you’re reading, and it works especially well with rhyming books. Just choose a word or phrase from the book to kick off a round of rhyming ping pong. With children who are learning to recognize written words and spellings, it can also be interesting to spend time on words that look very different but sound similar, such as rude and chewed.
Word Association
This is another very easy game for kids of all ages, and one that’s great for building vocabulary. One player starts with a word, e.g. cat, then the other responds with a word that is somehow connected, e.g. pet/claw/dog. Any link between the words is ok! It may be a similar word, an opposite, something that shares the same color, and so on. What’s fun is seeing where the associations take you, exploring the unexpected, and, once you run out of steam, looking back at where you started from.
For a more focused game—and one that you can bring back to your reading on a certain topic, if you wish—try keeping the associations within a set theme. So if one player starts with the word family, the other might say mother, then the first player could come back with brother, etc.
Freestyling
One of the most fun aspects of word games is simply seeing where language takes you. And many kids seem to naturally enjoy freestyling as they explore and manipulate the sounds of words they’re learning.
If yours is one of them, encourage it! And don’t sweat it. Freestyling doesn’t need to be about coming up with long strings of lyrics, or sounding super-polished. It can just be about snippets here and there, and often just commenting on something you are doing is enough to spark interest and the start of an idea to play with. For example, It’s bedtime soon, here comes the moon / Shall we go and choose a bedtime book? / Look, look / Your favorite: Charlie Cook.
In my family, our daughter is definitely the lead freestyler. And it’s our job to sometimes help her keep the rhymes going. But she also loves it when we start it off and she chimes in—it’s fun to “pass her the mic” for these moments.
Magical Mix-Ups
Every parent knows that kids come up with the most wonderful ways of expressing themselves. This can be mispronunciations of words, using a correct word in the wrong context, or coming up with their own unique words and phrases when they don’t have the “right” words to say something. (Just a few my daughter has come up with are “toe snails” for toenails, “softing” for stroking, “separate” for desperate, “hurty buzzcuts” to mean pins and needles, and “wind crumb” to mean a speck of dust in your eye.)
There are so many ways to create little games with these words and expressions. Look for opportunities to improvise with them in everyday language, such as creating little stories around them (e.g., about a giant birthday cake a “wind crumb” might have come from). You can also bring them into your family’s secret language, or “familect”—something experts say helps to strengthen bonds, introduce kids to the creative possibilities of language, and develop verbal skills.
Parents can bring in special terms and sayings from their own childhood, incorporate words from other languages, and even invent new ones alongside their children. Kids love spotting “mistakes,” and you can have lots of fun (plus prompt valuable reflection) by deliberately introducing them to your conversations. For example, say something like “Let’s call Grandma on the yellaphone,” then enjoy whatever unfolds.
What Am I?
Guessing games are always a hit with kids. And with this one, it’s easy to introduce an extra wordplay dimension. Here’s how to play: One person thinks of a person, object, book, film, place, or anything else, and gives a clue about it. The other has to work out the answer. To add a wordplay element, focus on the name of the person or item, as in the example below.
For example, the first player might say, “What kind of cat am I? I like to eat leaves and then I build a cocoon.” Answer: “A caterpillar.” You can either continue with more words containing the word “cat” (there are loads!) or change the key clue, e.g. “What kind of fish am I? I live in the sea, but I also share a name with the bright lights in the sky at night.” Answer: “A starfish.”
With younger kids, parents will probably have to lead this game, and you should adapt the clues to suit your child’s deduction skills, individual knowledge, and confidence. Then if they want to come up with clues too, great! Give lots of encouragement, even if they’re not ready to incorporate the wordplay element. Just trying to describe something without using the actual word is a fun challenge in itself. And of course it’s easy to bring this game back to your reading, whether through playing off the names of favorite characters or referencing stories in your clues.
Riffing on Roots
If you enjoy etymology (the history of words) or your child is curious about what words mean and why, then this game is for you. My daughter once asked me what the word mermaid “actually” meant. We got to talking, and it became clear she recognized the word maid (though she was fuzzy on its meaning), but was really confused about the prefix mer. I explained that maid meant woman and mer meant sea, so mermaid meant woman of the sea or sea woman.
And that’s when this particular word game started. We began with words we knew, like merman, but then quickly moved to inventing new ones, like mercorn, mermusic, and merflowers. With each new word, we imagined what they might sound or look like. Together, we created creatures, characters, and landscapes we’d never thought of before—ideas, perhaps, for stories to make up another time.
Silly Songs And Rhymes
Ever tried coming up with your own version of a nursery rhyme? Or heard your child singing different words to a favorite or familiar tune? That’s musical wordplay, and you can have lots of fun with it.
Take the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons.” The last, rather grizzly, verse is, “Here comes a candle to light you to bed / And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.” In my family, we saw this as a perfect opportunity to come up with our own, more kid-friendly alternative.
And when coming up with your own versions of songs and nursery rhymes, sometimes just adding one unexpected word is enough to create a whole new twist. For example, what happens when ”Head, shoulders, knees, and toes” becomes “Head, shoulders, bees, and toes”?
Tongue Twisters
Great for strengthening the muscles involved in speech and practicing pronunciation, tongue twisters also offer big laughs for kids and grown-ups alike. You can start with classics like “She Sells Seashells” and “Peter Piper.” Then make up your own, too. It’s fun to relate them back to your child’s own experiences and reading, like imagining a favorite character in a new and silly scenario.
An easy way is to ask (or help) your child to pick a sound (say, /k/ or /ch/). Then choose a person or animal that starts with that sound, along with a word to describe the person or animal and an activity that also starts with the sound. Then build from there.
So you might pick /ch/ and settle on chimp, cheeky, and chomp chips as your words. Voila! Your tongue twister is “Cheeky chimps chomp chips.” You can also use a character from a favorite story book, e.g., “Ada Twist twirls twine.” Create longer tongue twisters with older kids, or add to your inventions over time. Then comes the hard, and hilarious, part: Practicing your tongue twisters at ever-faster speeds!
Surreal Signs
When your child starts reading street and store signs while you’re out and about, it’s a great chance for more fun with words and meaning. Play around with ways to tweak spellings to create new meanings—for example Parking can become Park King, Dead End can become Head End, Starbucks can become Star Chucks, and so on.
You can explore meaning, too. Does a sign that reads “Slow pedestrian crossing” mean the pedestrians are slow? Is “Entrance” the place where you enter … or a command to cast a spell that puts someone in a trance?
Once you start looking, you’ll start seeing a potential play-on-words at every corner. Kids will love correcting your mistakes as they learn, without realizing, to look closely at words that most of us don’t pay much attention to.
Puns And Jokes
From around age three, most children can start to understand and even invent their own simple verbal jokes and puns. And this is when the bad dad jokes can start in earnest. The key here is making sure the humor and play-on-words is straightforward enough for your little one. Anything that you have to explain or that relies on spelling variations is probably a stretch too far.
So, think more along the lines of “What’s brown and sticky? A stick?” than “Why couldn’t the pony sing a lullaby? It was a little hoarse.”
If your child enjoys jokes, as my daughter does, try making up your own, as well as repeating ones you know. Plus encourage wordplay by being a willing audience to early attempts and remembered favorites.
The punch line? Children learn through play. Make play with words an integral part of your approach—it will build their confidence and love of language.
Christmas is a time of many gifts, especially when you have little ones in your life. And with a little forethought and intentionality, it can also be a wonderful opportunity to invest in your child’s education and development. Whether you’re shopping for great presents for your kids or giving gift ideas to relatives and friends, it’s easy and impactful to choose some Christmas gifts that encourage reading. Take a look at this list for ideas and inspiration to inject literacy, learning, and literature into the pile under the Christmas tree this year.
Board Games that Spur Reading
There are so many great board games that require kids to read in order to play. There are also some fabulous games that build reading skills, knowledge, and comprehension in kids who can’t read yet. If you have a young child, take a look at this list of board games that teach reading skills and are great for kids five and under. For older kids, you can select any number of games that involve reading—including classics like Cranium and Trivial Pursuit—as well as games that are specifically focused on words and spelling, from Scrabble to all the newest word-focused hits.
Christmas Gifts for Readers
Mad Libs, book subscriptions, personalized books, book dates, and so much more. This post on educational gifts says in the title that it’s aimed at preschool children, but in reality it includes loads of fun ideas and specifics about gifts that encourage reading among older kids, too. Give it a read for inspiration, along with a bunch of useful links and detailed information about various reading-related present options.
Christmas Gifts for Pre-Readers
Naturally, the educational gifts for preschoolers article linked above also includes a whole bunch of suggestions for Christmas presents that support reading skills in little kids who aren’t yet reading, too. You’ll find recommendations for classics and classics-with-a-twist, from alphabet puzzles to letter blocks and more, plus useful links and detailed descriptions and recommendations. Check it out!
Storytelling Cards and Dice
These fun tools spark storytelling, imagination, and connection in a big way. You can buy beautiful versions from various quality toymakers, or you can easily make your own DIY storytelling dice or DIY storytelling cards with our tutorials, or even snag our printable cards. Going the make-it-yourself route is awesome for a personalized gift that’s unique and special, and it also makes for lovely, affordable Christmas gifts for kids and a good eco-friendly gift option. Our tutorials, linked above, also give examples of how to use the storytelling props with kids.
DIY Bookmarks & Other Homemade Gifts
On the note of free and cheap Christmas gifts, a free stocking stuffer that encourages reading is a DIY bookmark. We have a bunch of tutorials to help you make your own bookmark for the kids in your life. These are also great options for children who want to make gifts for relatives, friends, or other loved ones. Don’t miss our free printable color-your-own Christmas bookmarks! Also check out these other DIY stocking stuffers that encourage reading and writing, from cute DIY books to pencil holders. And for another handmade gift that young kids can make for loved ones, try our DIY Christmas ornaments Read with Me Recipe.
Clothes (If You Choose Well…)
For kids who appreciate fashion, from sparkly tutu dresses to trendy tees, clothes can also make fun and practical presents to go under the tree. If you’re planning to give—or request—clothing for your kids this Christmas, there’s actually a way to build reading practice and print exposure into that, too! Pointing letters and words out to kids is crucial for preparing them to read, as well as building on their skills once they start. Read our tips for using the clothes they wear to help your kids grow into thriving readers.
And, of Course, Books (Good Ones⇩)
Ok, this one is so obvious that we left it for last, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still a top choice. Giving a few well-chosen books as Christmas gifts is not just powerful for encouraging kids to read, but it also teaches them that books are something to value and treasure. These holiday books by black authors make lovely presents, or browse our many themed book lists to find reads that fit your child’s interests and age. Then get inspired by reading about Iceland’s amazing “Christmas book flood” tradition.
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What is your family doing over winter break? If your answer isn’t “going on a cruise” or something similarly fabulous, we’re in the same boat (metaphorically only, alas). To make the most of time at home with kids during vacation, we’ve found it helpful to brainstorm activities beforehand. In this article, we look at reading activities to fill your winter break with sweet, old-fashioned, educational fun. And, truth be told, in the end, meaningful, quality time and special memories with our little ones may be even better than a trip.
Help Your Child Write Cards and Letters
Writing and reading go hand in hand, and the holidays are a great moment to reach out and touch someone’s heart. Help your child pen holiday cards or a letter to a relative far away, a neighbor, or even a senior citizen in a nursing home—there are nonprofit organizations that connect willing pen pals with isolated seniors. (Read our article on how to help your child write to a senior.)
Your child of any age will get to practice writing; if they’re not writing independently, just have them draw a picture and then help them write their name or form a simple message. Then, they can practice reading if they get a response. In the process, they’ll learn a valuable lesson about caring for others, connection, and infusing the holidays with a meaning beyond (just) getting gifts!
If you celebrate Christmas, don’t forget to write to Santa, too! Allowing time for your child to write down their own Christmas wish list and make a note for Santa are fun and festive ways to fill their winter vacation days with literacy practice. If you have an Elf on the Shelf, encourage your child to write to the Elf, too—and then make sure the Elf writes back. Read about why writing letters to your Elf on the Shelf is so good for kids, and get tips for starting this new tradition.
Plan a Bookstore and Cafe Date
Some of my favorite memories from growing up involve going to a bookstore—often a used one—and a cafe. We’d browse for a long time, checking out all the lovely reads. Finally, we’d pick one, or maybe two, books to buy. Then we’d take our new treasures to a cafe, where we would read, talk, sip warmly delicious drinks, and (as it turns out) make lasting memories.
When my son turned six years old, we started a new birthday tradition of going on a bookstore and cafe date together. We snuggled up at the cafe and I read aloud to him for hours. It was a welcome break for both of us and a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
So this winter break, why not invite your child on a special outing? Pick a local, independent bookstore, preferably one with a great used section. Encourage them to browse around for a long time. Take time to show them books you like, explore new reads together, and enjoy the books yourself. When it comes time to buy, though, follow their interests—no matter how hard it is. (If necessary, buy one kids’ book they choose and one you choose!)
Then head to the nearest cafe and hang out together. Do whatever it takes (well, almost) to make it a fun, happy outing. If their attention span runs out, no problem. Cut the outing short. If they get involved in a new chapter book and lunchtime rolls around, splurge on a cafe lunch. Throughout, keep the smiles, giggles, and snuggles flowing. Money saving tip: Funds can be extra tight this time of year. If you’re looking to save money, find a nice library to go “shopping” at instead. Some libraries even have cafes inside!
Read a Book and then Watch the Movie
From Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to The Grinch, there’s no shortage of holiday books that have been made into movies. This break, try spending some quality family time by choosing a book to read together and then watching the movie (or even the play).
You don’t have to stick to holiday reads and films, either. There are so many classics of literature, old and new, that have been brought to the silver screen. Just pick something that fits your family’s tastes. If you want to read a longer book, keep in mind that even younger kids can understand texts well above their reading level if you read them out loud. Tip: Look for versions of chapter books that are adapted for younger readers.
The advantage of this activity is that it doesn’t pit reading and screen time against each other, as is so often the case in the juggling act of family time-management. Instead, it creates a fun way for them to coexist as two sides of the same (fun) coin. If the book-to-movie activity is a hit, you can even form a family books-and-movies club, and plan to read and then watch new works regularly.
Brainstorm and Write New Year’s Resolutions
Another winter break activity for kids that naturally sparks more writing practice is the age-old habit of making New Year’s resolutions. It’s also a tradition that encourages reflection and creates space to explore your child’s thinking and help them develop their intentions.
With the new year looming, explain to your child the idea of resolutions, then brainstorm together what some of theirs might be. Feel free to give them examples of your own resolutions, but also ask plenty of open-ended questions. If kids feel free to come up with their own ideas, without judgment from you, they’ll be more engaged. Here are some of our New Year’s resolutions to help get your inspiration flowing.
Once they’ve got the concept, hand kids a pad of paper and a pencil and help them write down their resolutions for the year. You can even ask them to transcribe some family resolutions that you come up with together.
Going somewhere?
Of course, if you are going on that cruise or another fabulous getaway, you can still fit some great reading activities into your winter break. From big vacations to quick day trips, travel is a beautiful way to spend time together over the holidays. And anywhere you go with your child, there are so many ways to infuse reading and learning into the experience.
If you take a plane, train, or any public transportation together, that offers an easy moment to fit in some reading aloud to your child. Even in the car, I often read books out loud to my kids when I’m not the driver. (Tip: Hold the book up in front of your face to avoid getting motion sickness!) And keep in mind, reading out loud is NOT just for preschoolers. In past eras, adults would often read out loud to entertain a group. Plus, reading aloud to older children and even adolescents can be a fantastic opportunity to expand their horizons by sharing something that they wouldn’t read on their own—from different types of literature to engaging nonfiction.
If you are the driver, throw on an audiobook. We’ve got picks for great audiobooks for toddlers and audiobooks for preschoolers (as well as awesome story podcasts for kids), but there are also audiobooks for older kids that will engage the whole family, helping you pass the time happily, too.
Or just play any of these fun word games with your child. You’ll also want to check out these educational road trip games for kids and Maya’s tips and tricks for making travel with kids extra educational. (If you’re visiting with family, you may also want to check out this article on using books to prepare kids for time with grandparents and other relatives.)
Have a Holiday Book Flood
In Iceland, there’s a wonderful holiday tradition called Jolabokaflod, which means “Christmas book flood.” It’s all about giving, receiving, and reading books as a way to celebrate the holidays. Read all about it in this article and get tips for starting your family’s own Jolabokaflod tradition.
Browse our Kids Books section for ideas of great reads to add to your flood, including great winter holiday books by black authors. You’ll also find curated lists of picture books about sports and science, funny reads, books for teens, and lots of other themed collections.
Books make great holiday gifts and a relatively low-cost way to add some novelty to your child’s vacation days. Still, there’s no need to break the bank. You can always hit up your library for a stack of books to read over break, then buy just a couple favorites to add to your permanent shelf.
Go on a Reading Picnic
Another treasured set of memories from my own childhood involves sprawling on a picnic blanket, sipping hot tea or chocolate from a thermos, snacking on all kinds of picnic foods, and enjoying a book. Sometimes, we read to ourselves; other times, we listened to a story read aloud as we watched the clouds drift overhead or scrutinized the miniature world taking place among the blades of grass. Always, the sense of togetherness and getting carried away by a story infused the moments with magic.
Where I live, we often have mild days in winter that are perfect for a short hike and delicious picnic, especially provided some hot beverages are involved to keep us warm. But if your area isn’t delivering the picnicking weather, no problem. Pack up a basket or bag, pull out a picnic blanket, and have an indoor picnic in front of a fire or even under a play tent.
Then snuggle together and read to your heart’s content. It will keep the cold (and the worries of the world) at bay—promise.
Get Crafty
Of course, arts and crafts are another time-honored pastime with young kids, especially around holiday times. And we have so many great literacy activities to do with little ones, including some awesome holiday and winter-themed printables and crafts.
Check out our many winter and Christmas-themed activities, including this cute holiday lights word game and this educational snowman craft.
Have fun!
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Welcome to the October edition of Smart Story Time!
Every month, we curate some of our best recommendations for timely topics to read about with your child and diverse picture books (and other reading material) to delve into. The goal is to give you plenty of ideas and inspiration to keep your family reading time fresh and help you introduce your child to new subjects and vocabulary. Check out this list, then head out to find some great new-to-you kids’ reads at your local library or independent bookstore.
Here are some topics to read about with your child this month:
Halloween Picture Books
For a lot of us, October means Halloween—pumpkins carved into jack-o-lanterns, spooky decorations, and costumed kids tramping door-to-door to the timeless refrain, “trick or treat!” And you know that sharing some sweet reads with your little one is a total treat. Visit our post on great kids’ books for fall holidays and scroll down to find some recommended picture books for Halloween. You’re also sure to find plenty featured at your local library!
Kids’ Book about Dia de Los Muertos
Dia de Los Muertos means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish. This tradition from Mexico, now celebrated in many Latin American countries and across the world, celebrates the lives of loved ones who have died. Rather than being a sad and somber holiday, however, it is filled with love, flowers, sweet foods, candles, parties, and laughter. You’ll also find Dia de los Muertos book suggestions in our fall holidays books post.
Picture Books about Diwali
Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, is coming up this month, too. The biggest holiday of the year in India (though it is celebrated around the globe), it’s observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some sects of Buddhism. It takes place over five days, with prayers, feasts, decorations like intricate sand art called rangoli, and the lighting of lamps. Though different regions of India have different stories as to the origin of Diwali, all celebrants recognize it as a holiday about the triumph of good over evil. You’ll find some awesome Diwali reads near the end of the fall holidays books post.
And (Always) Books Your Child Loves
In addition to reading books that tackle timely topics or important subjects, be sure to follow your child’s interests, as well. If your kid loves sports, science or animals, read plenty of books on those topics to keep them engaged and help you build a close, responsive relationship. Check out our other kids’ book lists and articles for curated reading lists on various topics and loads of reading inspiration.
We’ll be back next month with the next installment of Smart Story Time. Meanwhile, feel free to message Maya with requests for future posts, book recommendations, or just to say hi!
What are you reading with your child this month? Connect on social media & let me know!
Welcome to the September edition of Smart Story Time!
Keeping new books in the mix keeps family reading time fresh for your child (and you), as well as introducing them to new subjects and vocabulary. That’s why we curate some of our best recommendations for diverse picture books around timely topics each month. We hope this inspires you to find some awesome new-to-you reads for your child at your local library or independent bookstore. Here are some topics to delve into with your child this month:
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Kids’ Books
Also called the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, this holiday is traditionally celebrated in many parts of Asia, including China, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The day is based on the Lunar calendar and happens each year sometime between September and October. It’s a celebration of the Autumn harvest and takes place (as you might have guessed) at night! Families gather with lanterns, mooncakes, and starfruit to celebrate together.
September is a great time to read about this long-standing tradition with your kids, so check with your local library for some good books, or read about a couple of lovely picture books about the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival recommended by early childhood educator Chrysta Naron—just follow the link and scroll down.
Picture Books about Rosh Hashanah
The start of fall also brings Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days—one of the most important times of the year in Judaism. It’s a time for adherents to reflect on their actions of the past year, consider any times they may have harmed others or done wrong, and think about how to improve themselves and the world around them in the coming year.
Your library should have lots of relevant reads on hand, and you can also check Chrysta Naron’s top picks for children’s picture books about Rosh Hashanah, compiled in the same post about awesome kids’ books for fall holidays that’s linked above.
Children’s Books about Fall Sports
Does your little one enjoy playing or watching ball sports? If you’ve got a budding fan/athlete in your home, reading books about their favorite sports may be a wonderful way to engage them in books and support their interests.
This fall, browse our lists of great picture books about soccer and picture books about football. You’ll find lots of fun and inspiring reads, plus plenty of lessons about teamwork, resilience, perseverance, and chasing your dreams.
Comic Books & Graphic Novels
September 25 is National Comic Book Day. Why not use the occasion to hit the library or bookstore with your kiddo to browse some graphic novels? These days, comic books stretch way beyond the superhero wam-pow-smack variety (though you’ll find plenty of those, too!), and they can be a really fun way to engage young readers of all ages, levels, and interests. If you find some you love, email me to let me know your recommendations!
About MayaSmart.com
MayaSmart.com is your one-stop-shop for raising a reader. Check out our other kids’ book lists and articles. We’ll be back next month with the next installment of Smart Story Time. Meanwhile, feel free to message me with requests for future posts, book recommendations, or just to say hi!
What are you reading with your child this month? Scroll down to connect on social media & let me know!
by Josiah Brown
Learning new words is vital to your child’s success in school and life. A wide vocabulary will help your child understand written text more easily, not to mention communicate more fluently when they speak and write.
Your child will develop a lifelong habit of adopting new vocabulary words easily if they learn how to do it at a young age. Start by teaching them new words during your read-aloud sessions and story times.
Rather than making your child memorize new words and their definitions, though, focus on explicit vocabulary instruction—explaining what words mean and how to use them. Using this method, your child will retain new information more easily, and will also be able to incorporate newly-learned words in their speech more quickly.
How to Teach Your Child New Words
Just as rote memorization isn’t the best way for your child to learn how to spell, unthinking repetition does a poor job of helping children learn new words.
According to researchers, children learn best from explicit instruction that combines easy-to-understand definitions, fun vocabulary activities, and continuous exposure.
The vocabulary teaching method outlined below will help your child understand how words are used in real-life situations, as well as learn that words can have different meanings depending on how they’re used.
Teach Vocabulary in Context
Exposing your child more frequently to targeted vocabulary words increases the likelihood that they’ll understand and remember the new words, as well as use them more often, according to research compiled by the National Reading Technical Assistance Center.
The same research also concluded that teaching unfamiliar words directly during read-alouds enhanced children’s understanding of word meanings. “Using a contextual approach to instruction produced greater vocabulary gains than lessons that emphasized learning word definitions,” the report said.
After all, it makes sense. Will a small child understand the word unfortunate best if they memorize that it means “having or marked by bad fortune; unlucky; unfavorable or inauspicious”? Or will they understand it better if you read them a story about an “unfortunate” occurrence at school, as they view an illustration of a sad child and a sympathetic teacher?
Asking questions and engaging kids in wordplay and word exercises with the target vocabulary also lead to greater gains in learning. In the next section, we’ll go over some of the fun activities you can use to help your child master new words.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching Kids Vocabulary
Use the following method to help your child understand, remember, and master new vocabulary.
1. Note unfamiliar words that your child encounters.
As you continue to read books to and with your children, take note of words your child doesn’t know. Jot down any unfamiliar words they come across in other settings, too—including during conversation, on TV, and in other kinds of reading material they encounter, such as signs or menus. Choosing words they’ve encountered will help them learn new words in context, which in turn reinforces their learning.
2. Come up with age-appropriate definitions.
When your child encounters a new word, come up with a definition of the word that your child will understand. If you’re having trouble, ask them to wait while you look up the dictionary definition, but don’t read it out to them. Instead, take a moment to rephrase the definition in a way you think they’ll get.
For example, if your child encounters the word joyful in a story where the main character is reunited with his lost dog, you might explain the word this way: “Tommy was joyful because he had found his long-lost dog. Joyful means you’re full of joy, which is happiness. So being joyful means you’re extremely happy.”
3. Explain vocabulary words with examples and counter-examples.
This is one of the most valuable steps for helping kids really understand new words. Explain the meaning and usage of the word with multiple examples.
In this case, you’d share some personal examples that they’ll connect with: “I’m joyful on summer days when we can go swimming in the pool. I’m also joyful on Christmas morning when we can open presents together.”
Then ask your child to point out situations that make them feel joyful. Ask them to use the word in a sentence to get more familiar with it.
Aside from giving examples of how the target word is used, also give counter-examples. You could point out that, while being reunited with a beloved pet is a joyful experience, losing a pet would be the opposite, a sad experience.
Then ask your child to share situations that are the opposite of joyful—situations that would make them feel sad or grieved. (Note the social-emotional learning opportunity here too!)
4. Revisit new words.
Return to new words later to fix them in your child’s memory, or repeat the definition when you encounter them again. Remind your child of the specific book or circumstances where they encountered that word.
For example, you could remind your child that they saw the word joyful in the story about Tommy. “Remember? Tommy felt joyful because he’d found Rover.”
5. Use fun activities to reinforce the word’s meaning.
Games and play will further reinforce the new word’s meaning and correct usage. Here are some easy word games to play with your child:
- Word associations – Ask your child, “What does the word joyful make you think of? What other words go with joyful?” Allow this game to get as playful and silly as you both like.
- Use their senses – Ask your child to describe what they saw, tasted, felt, smelled, or heard in a joyful situation. This game also encourages creativity and thinking analytically.
- Describe a word in pictures – Ask the child, especially younger kids, to describe the word in pictures. E.g., ask your child to draw situations that make them feel joyful. This contextual approach reinforces the meaning and usage of the word in a way that’s light and fun.
- Play word board games – Play word games like charades, vocabulary Pictionary, and vocabulary bingo to help your child master new words. Include words you’ve taught in previous weeks to reinforce the learning.
Also, check out the family activities published on this site for lots of activities designed to build and reinforce children’s vocabulary knowledge, from word games and crafts to easy-read recipes.
6. Teach unusual and challenging words, along with everyday vocabulary.
As you select words to focus on with your child, it’s helpful to know that educators think of vocabulary as falling into three general buckets. This can be a useful framework for parents as well:
- Basic vocabulary words that pop up frequently in everyday speech. Children learn these words primarily through conversation. Examples include baby, clock, phone, rain, dog, and happy.
- Sophisticated, high-frequency words that kids aren’t as likely to learn naturally, because they’re typically found in written texts and adult conversations. These words are also more likely to have multiple meanings. Examples include masterpiece, industrious, benevolent, and unfortunate.
- Low-frequency words found in specific disciplines and occupations, such as technology, medicine, and academia. Examples include isotope and amino acid.
When choosing vocabulary words to teach your child, you may want to focus on words in the second group, as they’re simultaneously challenging and widely useful.
Ready to dive deeper? For more vocabulary activities and word-learning strategies, check out the book Bringing Words to Life. We also like Once Upon a Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary for Kids for digging into how word meanings develop over time.
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By Boshika Gupta
Choosing the right school for a child with special needs can feel like a daunting task, whether you’re not sure where to start or you’re sifting through numerous options for that perfect fit. Trying to figure out whether your child will feel supported and comfortable, where they’ll acquire challenging skills, and whether they’ll thrive may leave parents feeling overwhelmed.
However, a few simple and effective strategies can go a long way in helping you make the right choice for your student. Break your school search down into the six steps listed in this article, and you’ll be well on your way to taking the stress out of your decision.
Start with a School Wish List
When looking at schools for your child, start with a basic list of needs and wants for their educational environment. Write down your child’s preferences and brainstorm what they’ll need to be comfortable in school. Maybe your kid prefers a flexible learning approach and doesn’t enjoy following a structured style. Or perhaps your child likes to pick up new habits through observation and needs individual attention to finish a task. Identifying your child’s likes and dislikes will help you understand which options may work best.
This is also a good moment to think about what you and your child hope they’ll get out of their school experience. School is a place to learn and develop academic skills, but it’s also the hub for kids’ social and extracurricular lives. Research shows that kids with special needs often struggle to participate in school activities from clubs and sports to group projects and building meaningful friendships. Determining your priorities among the many elements of school experience is invaluable in weighing the options.
List the Choices (Public, Private, & Specialized Schools)
It’s important to understand that all U.S. states are required by law to provide free public education to students with special needs from 3 to 21 years old, and to assist them with “early intervention, special education, and related services.” What’s more, all public schools must work with families, teachers, and other staff to create customized learning plans for kids with special needs — aka Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). These should address the child’s specific needs and ensure close monitoring of their progress.
Talking to a school’s staff members about your child’s individual needs (or existing IEP) will give you more clarity and help you understand their approach to learning. You need to know whether a school can provide a well-structured plan that takes into account your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Meanwhile, charter schools and private schools can offer alternative programs, smaller or more personalized environments, and more. There are also a plethora of specialized schools and programs tailored to specific needs and approaches. Keep in mind that the support for kids with special needs can look different at public vs private schools, and private schools may charge extra for certain types of support services. Be sure to ask plenty of questions to get clear about what’s on offer.
Search and ask around to discover all of the possibilities for your student, then make a full list of the options.
Evaluate the Options
While preparing a list of schools (public or private) that you’d like to consider for your child, take your time reading up about each program.
Factors to take into consideration include the specific techniques used by the staff members to help kids excel in the classroom, staff-to-student ratios, and the availability of assistive technology devices. Do they have a specific program that would work well for your child’s needs? Do they have staff members with diverse backgrounds who are equipped to handle challenging situations?
If the options seem overwhelming, one tip can help you cut to the chase: The only thing that really matters about your school choice is how well it fits your child’s needs at this point in time.
“Students with disabilities by definition have completely individualized and unique needs,” says Allison Gandhi, Vice President at the American Institutes for Research. “In special education, the most important kind of evidence is the data you have on your own students’ progress.” Gandhi argues that teachers should monitor the kids’ progress carefully and modify their teaching strategies based on their observations, so flexibility may be a factor.
Schedule a Visit
Once you’ve got a list of schools you’re interested in, it’s crucial to actually go to the schools in person. While this seems obvious, it’s easy to put it off, and many parents waste time considering schools that they could have crossed off their lists quickly after one site visit. Best is to go with your child — this will help you gauge their reaction to the school (and how people at the school react to them). You’ll get to observe them first-hand as you explore the facilities together and interact with staff members.
There’s no better way to find out what a school is really like. Walk its corridors, talk to the teachers, look inside its classrooms, observe its personnel and students, learn about the school’s approach to inclusion, and get a taste of everything in person.
Things to watch for during school visits:
- Pay attention to the details of the environment—comfort, amenities, even lighting.
- What are the classrooms like? Would the setting and interactions be a fit for your student?
- Note the students’ demeanor. Do they seem enthusiastic and relaxed? Engaged? Bored or unhappy?
- Note the teachers’ and staff members’ demeanor, as well.
- Is student work displayed? What does it tell you about the projects they’re working on?
Ask Questions
It’s normal to juggle doubts as you attempt to figure out whether a school will be able to cater to your child’s needs, ensuring they feel safe, supported, inspired, and whatever else you wish for them. You should feel free to ask as many questions as you like — experienced staff members and teachers will likely be happy to address your queries at length.
Take time to write out your questions before your visit, and don’t hesitate to follow up if you think of more questions later.
Some things to ask about:
- The school’s primary and support staff, including counselors
- Specifics of the curriculum and programs
- The total number of students in each class
- How they’ll work with you to come up with an individualized plan for your child
- Student outcomes
- How they resolve conflicts or difficult situations
Ask Around
In all your research, don’t forget to seek out other parents of children with special needs and find out what they think about a particular school. Word of mouth is a powerful tool: If many parents praise a school’s approach to tackling special needs education, their experiences will be more informative than generic rankings or lists.
Don’t isolate yourself by only talking to a school’s administrators and staff members, or you won’t get the full picture. Instead, make it a priority to find out what real families have experienced at your target schools. Dive into detailed reviews if available, but remember there are many other ways to get parent feedback. Post questions in online forums, ask in neighborhood groups and on social media, comb your network for contacts, and get creative in connecting with relevant families.
Then ask everyone you find about the accommodations, tutoring styles, and learning tools available at different schools, as well as the overall environment. Ask about their personal experiences, preferences, doubts, and impressions.
Choosing a school for a child with special needs doesn’t have to be stressful, when you have the right tools and reach out for support when you need it.
Raising a special needs child? Contact Maya to share your tips or let us know what resources would be helpful.
Welcome to the August edition of Smart Story Time!
Keeping new material in the mix helps make family reading time fresh for your child (and you), as well as introducing them to new subjects and vocabulary. That’s why at MayaSmart.com we curate some of our best suggestions for timely reading each month.
We hope this inspires you to spend some time reading with your child this month—whether in the library, on a picnic, in the kitchen, or even while shopping.
Here are some ideas for what to read with your child this month:
Picture Books for Starting School
The time is fast approaching: The sound of new zippers rings out and the smell of sharpened pencils fills the air. It’s back to school! Whether it’s your child’s first year in school or they’re an old pro, a new school year can be daunting. But don’t worry! There’s something that can help ease their worries and spark some enthusiasm for their upcoming year—books.Early childhood educator Chrysta Naron recommends a selection of picture books that help kids get ready to start school. These books are special because they cover a wide range of first-day-of-school experiences. In their pages, we meet children just starting out, moving from a new country, expressing their creativity, and celebrating their names (not to mention an adorable cat and one very stressed-out pigeon). Whatever your little one’s circumstances, these picture books about starting school are sure to help guide your child into a less-stressed and happier beginning to the school year.
Funny Kids’ Books
What’s black and white and “read” all over?
Contributor Andrea Hunt’s roundup of funny books for kids, of course. (You didn’t guess that, did you?) August 16th is National Tell a Joke Day, so indulge in the healing power of laughter—plus discover all the ways that some rib-tickling reads can make reading together more fun, encourage reluctant readers, set the scene for learning, and even help kids regulate emotions or navigate challenges.Then, if you and your child are up for a creative challenge, build on your comical story time by working together to write and illustrate your own funny tale. Or, for pre-writers or reluctant writers/artists, keep it light and just engage in some humorous oral storytelling.
Menus, Signs, Clothes, and More (Not Kidding)
August is traditionally vacation month. If you’re taking some time off, look for creative ways to get in some reading with your kids. Read my post on working literacy into travel with kids, or check out our collection of Read-with-Me Recipes for some educational quality time during a staycation.
If you’re not on vacation, never fear! Take a few moments in the evening or over the weekend to make (and read) one of the recipes, and review our tips for maximizing story time to get the most out of the time you have available to read with your child.
And whenever you hit the stores (or internet) for back-to-school shopping, check out our tips for using writing on clothing to help kids learn to read. See? You really can work in literacy learning to everyday moments with your kids, no matter how busy or tired you may be. And feel free to message me with your questions or requests!
Anything Your Child Loves
In addition to bringing books into your family reading time that tackle timely topics or important subjects, be sure to follow your child’s interests, too. This keeps them engaged and helps you build a responsive relationship with your child. Check out our other kids’ book lists and articles for inspiration.
We’ll be back next month with the next installment of Smart Story Time. Meanwhile, feel free to message me with requests for future posts, book recommendations, or just to say hi!
What are you reading with your child this month? Scroll down to connect on social media & let me know!