With all the stress of managing a busy family, establishing a reading routine might seem like a ludicrous idea, especially when it’s easier to sit in front of the TV together and veg out. But according to research, the older children get, the less likely they are to enjoy reading for pleasure. With a few minutes a day of family reading, you can engender healthy, independent readers.

Follow these tips to set up a book club the whole family can enjoy.

1.      Set up a reading schedule. Whether 15-30 minutes a day, every other day, or twice a week, a set schedule can help avoid double-booking. Allow children to give input to help coordinate time frames, especially if children are older.

2.      Choose a book. Johnny likes sci-fi; Jane wants a comedy. Solve this problem by setting up a rotation, much like a book club. Draw names out of a hat to decide who chooses first, second, etc. And, parents, be sure to put your names in as well. Children will lean more toward popular novels and series like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, while parents can bring in the classics and nonfiction works to help create well-rounded readers.

3.      Read aloud. Once you have a schedule and a book, the family reading time can commence. Have whoever chose the book introduce the book and explain why it was his/her choice. Then take turns reading aloud. Parents can model fluency in reading while monitoring their children’s reading strengths and weaknesses.

4.      Discuss, discuss, discuss. A daily discussion probably revolves around school, homework, and day-to-day goings-on. But since all family members are reading the same book, there will be plenty of new topics. Discussion also allows parents to gauge how much of the book the children comprehend. Ask what has happened so far and have everybody describe what they think will happen in the next chapter. Talk about characters as they are introduced, explaining who each family member identifies with. Children might be surprised by parents picking the troublemaker instead of the goody-goody, which is a great way for kids to get to know more about Mom and Dad and their childhoods.

5.      Have a wrap party. At the end of a book, it’s time to rejoice! Create a new celebration tradition by getting ice cream or going out to eat together. Parents can cleverly sneak in a discussion about what everyone liked and didn’t like about the book while the kids enjoy their favorite restaurant or ice-cream joint.

Finally, don't stress! The whole point is to set a time where the family can be together as readers, but even the best schedule can  be derailed due to unexpected events. If you miss a reading time, make the time up if you can, but don’t let it become one more thing that stresses you out. Reading together is supposed to be fun, relaxing, and enlightening. Enjoy the special moments that you create!