Use Reading this Holiday to Build Relationships!

     Reading together as a family was very popular a few years ago when families read the Hunger Games together. Moms, Dads, kids, grandparents, aunt, uncles, etc all got to read the story and discuss what was going on in the books. This was a good way to form deeper relationships among family members because it allowed families to discuss, poverty, life, death, what would you do in this case, what do you like or dislike about the character? Also, it puts the family on an even playing field everyone has an opinion no one is right or wrong, everyone can discuss their point of view.

     The holiday season is a great time to build relationships among the family. I suggest doing so by reading together. I suggest picking a classic children's story that has been made into a movie. Spend the week reading the book together. You can actually read it or listen to it via audio book. Then take the time to discuss it together. You can make it a discussion over lunch or dinner. Or you can make it a discussion over snacks and hot cocoa.

     I love this idea because it allows the family to share an experience in this case a story, Then gives them a chance to talk agout what happened how it made you think and feel. It opens lines of communication and when the whole family participates it opens up how each other thinks and feels. This brings people closer to understanding each other. It is this understanding which enriches, deepens, and strengthens relationships When you have read the book together the next step is to watch the movie.

     After you watch the movie, talk about the choices the screenwriter made when editing the book for film, do you like what they did. Do you feel key elements of the story played well to the  people who will never read the book? What in the movie would you keep or eliminate? Here is a list of  book/movies I suggest reading.

The Secret Garden
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Hunger Games 1, 2, or 3
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Charlotte's Web
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
James and the Giant Peach
Matilda

If none of these strike your fancy here is a list of others from wikipedia.

    I hope you take this opportunity to use reading to set an example for your children on the importance of reading and perhaps start a new holiday tradition. Happy Holidays for PT&A and welcome in 2018!

Believe in Parenting

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