I have such fun talking with parents about their reading times with their children. Of course it varies from a 30 second look at a picture to reading novels out loud. Sharing stories is always an adventure.
I had an amazing experience with one of my students and his family. Let’s call him John (not his real name due to confidentiality laws). John loved books but through my home visit contacts I discovered that neither of his parents read to him. Unfortunately John also struggled with behavior. He tried so hard at times to control his behavior that he shook! Although, I asked both parents (They were divorced.) to establish a nightly story time with him, only the father followed through.
At first John’s father was reluctant about the idea. However, after a few weeks, John’s father could not talk enough about it. It wasn’t easy every time but John’s father told me that John now tried harder to listen to him and he felt that they were becoming closer too. What a testament to reading with your children!
Encourage every person you can, parent, grandparent, siblings etc. to have fun reading together.