9 Children's Picture Books For Young Kids With Big Feelings

I'm parenting a child with big feelings. BIG happy, BIG mad, BIG disappointed, BIG enthusiastic, BIG empathy, BIG resistance. Every feeling is big. There is both beauty and pain in this. Getting a child with big feelings to cooperate isn't easy.

We've had a lot of trial and error. I admit, I've had some total breakdowns in my minivan--feeling unequipped to deal with a particular situation. I don't want to fail my kid--knowing I need to be the adult they desperately need.

I have several tools I've used that have helped. First, we created our Angry Bowl. It's worked very well!

Second, we have a home sensory gym. It's important for kids with sensory issues to have a balance of calmer activities and gross motor activities. Both of which need to include plenty of sensory-friendly opportunities.

Third, I've worked to educate myself. Reading Sensational Kids, The Whole Brain Child, and The Connected Child has been helpful for me to understand why old school parenting just doesn't make sense for adoptees and children with special needs. (Arguably--it doesn't make sense for any child). 

Reading can be a calming activity for a child with special needs. I encourage you to read quietly, but also make it fun! Use different voices, read in various locations (whatever works for the kiddo), and make sure you have books in a variety of locations throughout your home so they are easily accessible.

View this post on Instagram

I’m parenting a big feelings kid. Big joy. Big empathy. Big sad. BIG. Every day I am learning to evolve so that the BIG is lovingly guided. ⛄️ anyone else have a BIG feelings kiddo? Drop your tips and thoughts here 👇🏼👇🏾👇🏿 . . . #bigfeelings #son #blackboys #blackboyjoy #multiracialfamily #wearefamily #connectiveparenting #parentingwithconnection #whitesugarbrownsugar #mondaymotivation

A post shared by Rachel Garlinghouse (@whitesugarbrownsugar) on Dec 23, 2019 at 6:11am PST

Not only is reading important, but what you read is just as essential. Kids with big feelings need affirmation and techniques to help them navigate what's going on in their hearts and brains. Thankfully, there are many great picture book options that have helped my kiddo--and I'm sure will help yours, too!

What I love about these books is that they don't shame the child for having big feelings. Instead, they honestly and openly discuss them, but also encourage the child to take charge and to own their choices--showing them how empowering big feelings can be!

Click on the book cover to read reviews, a full description, get a sneak peek inside, and purchase:

6 Ways to Reduce Adoption Anxiety

So you know that I typically write about adoption, but today, I need to talk about something that impacts A LOT of women, and often women in the adoption community.    

We spend A LOT of time worrying and waiting.  We often live in long seasons of confusion, frustration, exhaustion.  And of course, anxiety.   

I've had anxiety for as long as I can remember, which means when it comes to adoption, my anxiety revs up even more.  For my entire life, I've heard things like:

-let go, and let God
-just take a chill pill
-calm down
-you just need to have more faith
-it'll be OK

Let me make one thing very clear:  when you have anxiety, you cannot just "suck it up."  Anxiety can be debilitating.  

Now being anxious in tough circumstances doesn't necessarily mean you have anxiety.  There are different types of clinical anxiety.  However, situational anxiety is quite common among those waiting to adopt.

I'm not going to play.  There are no superficial suggestions here like, just have a "spa day" with a friend, or jet off to Hawaii, or meditate.  Yes, a spa day, a fab vaca, or meditation might be able to help, but my goal is to provide you with practical (and from my experience) help.  

For more ideas, I explore the "waiting to adopt" phase in depth in The Hopeful Mom's Guide to Adoption. 

1:  Make a list of what helps.

This should be a personalized list of the things you can do to stay focused on peace, joy, patience, and thankfulness instead of on worry and control.  Type out this list and post it somewhere visible.  And then refer to it often!   I promise, this can be very helpful.   I call my list "When Anxiety is Winning." Here are a few things on m list to inspire you to get started: 

-go outside on a sunny day and take deep breaths in of fresh air

-schedule a coffee date with a trusted girlfriend

-drink green or white tea or take l-theanine

-avoid social media (explanation of why)

-listen to my favorite energizing or calming music (depending on my mood)

-organizing something in my home

-diffuse an essential oil (I prefer orange for energy or vanilla for calming) or light a favorite candle

-repeating a favorite Bible verse

2:  Seek the guidance of an adoption competent counselor.

Not everyone gets adoption, so if you choose to go to counseling, I urge you to be picky!  

Counseling was a jackpot for me during my recent breast cancer journey.  My anxiety was at an all-time high, and it seemed like nothing I was doing was "enough" to tame the beast.  I needed cognitive behavioral strategies.   

Most recently, I learned of the container exercise---look into it!  Very helpful to "contain" whatever adoption issues you are wrestling with, the ones keeping you up at night.   

Counseling is great because it's an "outside party" who can listen to you without judgement and offer suggestions and exercises you can do to help your anxiety.  

3:  Join an adoption support group and/or create an adoption "village."

The more perspectives you have, the better.  A great adoption support group will be for all triad members, inviting everyone into the conversation.  It should be an open, welcoming place where you can ask questions and receive responses.   

I've been asked, what about online support groups?  I love that online groups bring about different triad members from all over the world.  I love that you can participate as much as you want or just sit back and read.   However, there are some drawbacks:  posting anything personal means many, many people have access to that information.  There tends to be a lot (a lot) of drama in online adoption groups.   These groups also tend to have a few strong voices that dominate the group's discussion and direction.   

So I'd say, join at your discretion, and remember that nothing, and I mean nothing, is more helpful and beautiful than face-to-face, hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart relationships.   So if you engage in online support, please consider person-to-person support as well (and more importantly).  

4:  Get educated.

Oftentimes, the source of adoption anxiety is ignorance, meaning, a lack of knowledge.  For example, perhaps your social worker has given you a checklist in which you must say what type of adoption you will or will not consider including transracial adoption, older child adoption, and special needs adoption.   

You want to swiftly mark "no" because you are scared.  You are intimidated.  You have a million questions but feel too frozen to seek answers.   But answers are exactly what you need to make an educated, confident decision.

I have talked to SO many adoptive parents who stepped out in faith, after getting educated, and have the children they do BECAUSE they chose to learn, listen, and say "yes."  If you've read The Lucky Few (if you haven't, PLEASE do!), you know exactly what I'm talking about. 

Personally, we swiftly marked "white" on the race openness during our first adoption.  After waiting a year, we were re-evaluating our openness, and I remember looking at my husband and saying, "Why aren't we open to race?"  We spent four months in the trenches of transracial adoption education (and that was just the beginning...we have NEVER stopped our transracial adoption education):  meeting with transracial families, reading books/blogs/articles, talking for HOURS every single night about race, and more.  After those four months, our eyes were opened to the fact that not only could we adopt transracially, but we were as prepared as possible to do so.  Of course, experience IS the best teacher, but there's a lot to be said for proactively preparing.  

Our daughter was born and placed with us shortly after.  And now, we are parenting four transracial adoptees.  

5:  Be aware of possible future struggles, and prepare now.

Again, being proactive is incredibly wise!  After adoption, some women experience post-adoption depression.   A particularly difficult adoption might lead a mama to experience PTSD.   (I shared three trauma experiences you can explore here:  part 1, part 2, and part 3.) 

I don't throw these around lightly, and I'm not a medical expert.  However, I have engaged with thousands of adoptive parents:  and struggling with an adoption before and during is common, and the struggle often amplifies after the adoption, manifesting in post-traumatic stress (though it may or may not extend to PTSD) or depression.  

How can you prepare now?  Constantly "check in" with how your're feeling and doing.  A counselor (see point #2) can help you with this. Also, learn about post-adoption depression and trauma.  If you end up experiencing either of these, you will be able to recognize them and seek help sooner rather than later.  

6:  Don't pause your life.

You NEVER know how long it will take to adopt.  One of the worst mistakes a woman can make is to put her life on hold (AKA:  put her joy, time, peace, energy, etc. on vacation) while she waits for "the call."  

Waiting to adopt is a great time to invest in a new hobby, to "date" your partner, to organize things in your home, even prepare a nursery, make career moves at work, go on that dream vacation, step up your fitness routine, etc.  

Holding out only increases your anxiety!  If you bank everything on "when the baby comes," I've got news for you:  once the baby comes, you will have way less time, energy, and money.  Parenthood is tough!   It requires a lot of you.  It's a shift and requires a lot of adjusting.   It's a welcomed and wonderful shift, but it is hard.   

Dear Sugar: Your Burning Adoption Questions, Anxiety, Gender Preference, Profile Books, and More

Dear Sugar,

Occasionally I ask my Facebook followers what they want to know about adoption, so today I'm answering some of your questions! Let's get at it!  

Q:  I have a diagnosis of anxiety and depression.  Can I still adopt?

The answer is, probably yes. Many parents-by-adoption have various health issues, whether it be mental or physical.  The most important thing is that your health issue is "controlled" and under the supervision of a medical professional.   I also think it's important that you are aware of your needs and are honest about where you are, because the adoption journey can be really mentally, emotionally, and (because of those) physically draining on a person.  It's likely your social worker will ask for a letter from your doctor regarding your health issue, which will be part of your homestudy process.   Just be honest (with your social worker and yourself)!  

Q:   I'm overwhelmed by all the adoption resources:  books, blogs, articles, workshops.  How do I choose?  

With adoption resources, I think the idea of "less is more" is false. The more perspectives you have, the better off you are as a parent. That said, I know it's not realistic for you to spend all your spare time reading adoption resources.  So my advice?  Start by reading ONE resource from EACH of the adoption triad members:  parent-by-adoption, adoptee, and birth parent.   Then once you've read those three resources, choose another three.   By making small goals (three resources at a time), you'll be more likely to actually read the resources.   To get started, here are three book suggestions from triad members:  Finding Motherhood (Jill M. Murphy)-birth mom and mom by adoption; Dear Adoptive Parents (Madeleine Melcher)-adoptee; You Can Adopt Without Debt (Julie Gumm)- mom by adoption.   

Q:  Should I have my profile book professionally created?

More and more hopeful parents are opting to have their profiles professionally created.  Most of us aren't graphic designers AND writers, so creating a book is a BIG deal.  I think the main question to ask yourself is this:  Is this profile book authentically me?   That's what's most important.  A good professional profile designer will help create a book that clearly is the REAL you.   Also, consider your budget.  Having a professional create your book comes at a cost.    At the end of the day, choose ethics.  Send out profile books that are truth-tellers, because what's at stake is SO important.  

Q:  I cannot have biological children.  Do I share that in my profile book?

It's your choice, though an expectant mom may be curious as to why you are choosing to adopt.  Just know that whether or not you choose to disclose in your book, you might be asked by an expectant mom why you are opting to adopt.  In some ways, it's easier just to put it all "out there" and "up front," since a question later (and in person) may catch you off guard.  The thing I don't want you to do is turn your profile book into a "sob story," where you pour out your story to expectant mothers and potentially induce some sense of guilt or obligation.   Your story is yours, and you can decide how to share it.   

Q: I really want to adopt a girl.  Is it OK to have a preference?  

I have strong feelings on this one---but remember, I'm only one person and my word isn't adoption gospel.   I do not agree with allowing parents to select the sex of the baby they will adopt when we're talking about domestic infant adoption.   Here's why.  One, your child might be thought to be a boy or girl and then surprise, is born and isn't what was predicted.  Are you going to back out of the match because the baby isn't your "dream" or "preferred" baby?   Two, a child isn't going to be a certain way just because he or she is a boy or a girl.  I have a daughter who loves dragons and basketball and the color blue.   She's not "girly." So if your preference is based on expectations and demands, that's not fair to the child.  We need to let our kids be who they are, not force them into a category out of selfish desire.  

Now, I have plenty of friends who did state a preference, and I believe that's their choice.  Their children are a joy.   But for me, I wasn't at all comfortable choosing a preference.   In fact, our son was thought to be a girl (surprise!) and one of my daughters was thought to be a boy (surprise again!).  I'm happy with our family:  three girls and one boy.   

I just wanted to be a mommy.  

Dear Sugar: 5 Practical Tips to Get Out of Your Winter Funk

Dear Sugar,

I live in the Midwest where we have extremely hot summers and dreary winters.   These "dead" seasons can be really hard on a woman, whether she's a mom or a hopeful mom.   

Right now, it's post-holidays (no more cheery Christmas music, twinkling trees, or cookie trays) and pre-spring:  it's just winter, but without the glittery snow.   We're seeing a lot of gray skies, windy and chilly days, little sunshine, and too much indoor time.   Motivation = 0.   

If you are in this place, here are five practical ways to get out of the funk:

1:  Lessen screen time.
I know, I know.  But it REALLY does make a huge difference.  Post-election news has been nothing but grim.  The politically polarizing posts on social media are enough to make us all lose our minds. Additionally, I pretty much never feel better after a scroll through my newsfeed, do you?   I encourage you to set limits for yourself, whatever those may be.   For me, Instagram and Pinterest are always happy places, where Facebook tends to suck the patience right out of me (well, the little patience I had).    I'm also in a season where I've decided no social media after 5 p.m. or on weekends.  Whatever works for you, do it.   And if you're brave enough, take a hiatus from social media for a set period of days, weeks, or months like I did.  (Though I will certainly miss interacting with you on my Facebook page.)   I recommend reading Hands Free Mama to motivate you to take the social media break or set the limits you desperately need.  

2:  Read (and Journal).
I know, I just told you less screen time, and when I say read, I mean read an actual book made of paper.  I'm working to pour into my own soul rather than deplete my mental energy.   A few suggestions include Only Love Today, Wild and Free, and 52 Lists for Happiness.   If you're currently in an adoption rut, my friend Madeleine Melcher and I co-authored Encouragement for the Adoption and Parenting Journey: 52 Devotions and a Journal, a book to inspire and uplift.   And there is nothing wrong with picking up some Chick Lit book or a cheap romance novel.   

3:  Movement. 
Notice I said "movement" and not "exercise."  Do something active that brings you energy and inspiration.  For me, a walk, dancing, and lifting free weights does the trick.   For you it might be running, yoga, walking your dog, swimming, or something else.   I never make movement about calorie burning.   For me, movement's #1 benefit is to become more aware of and prioritize my body so I can be more "fit" physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.    Movement helps you sleep better, reduces anxiety, and boosts "feel good" hormones.  I suggest putting movement as a "to do" on your calendar (for me, it's currently Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings) as well as work it in when the opportunity presents itself (see #4).   

4: Get outside.
When the opportunity presents itself, get outside.  We've had a few sunny (and slightly warm) breakthrough days the past few weeks.  We get on our coats and head outside, letting the sunshine kiss our cheeks.  It is amazing how much better we feel after just ten minutes in the Great Outdoors. Linger outdoors whenever you can.  Better yet, combine your commitment to Movement with your outdoor time:  a walk, playing catch or basketball with your partner or child, etc.  

5:  Connect.
Connection is something we are desperately missing these days, and we try to fill that void with more screen time, more food, more work.   But truly, nothing can fill the connection void except...you guessed it, connection.   I'm committing to getting coffee with a friend one morning a week, or two mornings if we don't have any medical appointments.   These moments with my friends have made such a difference in my days.   It's a chance to listen, love, and laugh.    Another connection goal we're establishing in our family is to have reading night every Wednesday evening.  So we do early dinner, early bath time, and then get in our pjs and lay on the living room rug and read, read, read.   My spouse and I plan to continue our reading commitment once the kids go to bed, pulling out our recent favorite books and relaxing together.   Wine included.   A great book to inspire intentional connectivity is Craving Connections, which I'm currently reading.  

Of course, none of these are substitutes for seeking professional intervention if you need it, whether that be seeking a counselor or seeing your doctor to be checked for anemia, depression, or a vitamin deficiency (such as vitamin D).  

What has helped you get out of a funk in the past?  What practical goals can you set for yourself during this season of life so that you can be happier, more motivated, and more energized?  

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

Dear Sugar: To The Mom About To Lose Her S*** at Christmastime

Dear Sugar,

This week I lost my s***.

We had spent last weekend with my husband's family.   I'd spent days, correction, weeks, preparing. Buying gifts.  Wrapping gifts.  Doing laundry.  Packing.   Cleaning up the house so it wasn't a disaster when we got home.   When we finally reached our destination, it went pretty well.   But it was, as always, a lot of sleeplessness, sugar, and swimming (hotel pool) leading to fun in the moment followed by dysregulation station (toot toot!) when we got home---which of course lasts for days.  

It wasn't one thing that threw me off.   Really it was just a culmination of little events that made me decide I was DONE.    One kid told a lie.  Another kid wouldn't stop touching the other kids' gifts, reaching out a finger to prod the toy, rendering the toy's owner to an epic meltdown.   Of course, they also had to go straight back to school for three days of nonstop Christmas "fun" which included, more sugar, more disruption in routine---it was just too much.    Then the kids wouldn't pick up after themselves.  Mess after mess was left for me.  I couldn't keep up.  Then one of my kids gave her younger brother a haircut.  A haircut.   Every single whimper had me on sensory overload.  

My anxiety was rearing it's ugly head in the form of frustration, negativity, and drastic thinking (Christmas sucks!).   I decided that eating too many Christmas cookies and drinking too much coffee was the temporary answer...of course, then I was just jittery and more frazzled.

And break hadn't even started yet.   And we still have two more Christmas family celebrations to go.

And then I started thinking about the election.   And adoption ethics.  And a slew of other things....because you know, why not when you're already in a hole of despair?

Yes, I'm being dramatic.

I'm a "suck it up, buttercup" kind of girl.  Type A.  Strong.  Determined.   Driven.  Focused.   Putting on my big girl panties and DEALING.   But not this time.  

I love Christmas.   I love everything about it:  decorations, food, music, pjs, movies, church on Christmas Eve night, visiting family, shopping, wrapping, and opening.  

But what I'd forgotten is that Christmas, the first one, was very, very simple and humble.   And it didn't involve getting upset about everything that went wrong, like teen (unmarried) pregnancy, taxes, long journeys, and no room in the inn.    It was all about what went right.

Many moms are in my boat.  WE do the food prep.  The packing.  The shopping and wrapping.  The photo-taking.   The cleaning up.

And sometimes, like in my case, I take over when my husband chips in, because I want things done MY way.  Because after all, my way is the best way, right?

WE moms do almost all the GIVING.   And we are to do so CHEERFULLY.  

Then there is not a whole lot left, is there?    Except exhaustion, resentment, and squandered expectations.   Things undone.   Disappointment.

When my husband walked in the door that day, I said, "I'm out."  I went into my room with a notebook, my laptop, and a pen.   I took a super hot shower.   Then I crawled into my bed and wrote, watched about five episodes of The Office, and just chilled out.  

It wasn't easy.   I had suffocating waves of feelings:  guilt, resentment, frustration.   How could a GOOD mother just disengage like that, at BEDTIME, of all times?   During the blessed Christmas season?!?

It took a good three and a half hours before I emerged from my cave.  All the kids were in bed.  My husband had done the dishes and was feeding the baby.   The world didn't fall apart just because I checked out to get my s*** together.  But this was NOT the attitude I wanted to carry throughout the holiday season.  

I made a few decisions during those three hours---because I'll be damned if I'm not going to have a merry Christmas and enjoy my favorite holiday.

1: I will acknowledge my own needs to have time and space.   

I will state these, asking for help.   By doing so, it won't have to get to a breaking point.   I'll be proactive vs. reactive.

2:  I'm going to say no.
No to filling our afternoons with playdates or errands.   There is nothing we need THAT badly that I'm going to venture into a crowded store with four children.   My children can play independently or together---no additional friends needed.  

3:  We're spreading out our Christmas fun.  

Extending the holiday so the pace is slower and the season is more meaningful.     If this means doing things after Christmas, great.   

4:  Simplify, simplify, simplify.   

A Christmas tradition in my family is to make homemade sugar cookies and decorate them.  I just sent my husband to the store to buy pre-made sugar cookie dough.  No mixing and chilling in advance.   When we're ready to decorate, we can have cookies ready in minutes.  

Remember Christmas is all about hope and redemption.  Remember that Christmas reminds us that people look at the outside---the surface---but our God looks (and cares) about the conditions of our heart (1 Sam. 16:7).   

How's your heart today mama?   What can you do, practically, to better that condition?   What do you NEED in order to lean in to your Savior this Christmas?    

Make a list.

And don't check it twice.  

Don't apologize for having needs.  Don't revise the list.  Or edit it.   Or be ashamed of it.

Jesus came for you, too.   

  

Dear Sugar: How To Squeeze Reading Into Your Kids' Busy Days

Hey, Sugar!

I know you're busy.   I'm busy.  We're ALL busy.

We limit our children's extracurricular activities, mostly because we are big believers in free play and de-stressing time.   I have one kiddo who struggles with anxiety (as do I!), which you can read more about in my recent Babble article, and because of this, we work hard to just CHILL after school.   The first few months of school, we do no extracurriculars, and then after that, the kids can each sign up for one (late afternoon/early evening) extracurricular of their choosing.  Usually this entails a one hour a week tumbling class, a basketball practice, or something similar.    

We've established a pretty strict after school routine for the sake of sanity (routine is GOOD), that goes like this:

• 4:00:  snack time (protein, crunchy carbs, healthy fat)
• 4:15-5:00:  gross motor play, either outside (when it's nice), an XBOX dance or sports game, or downstairs where we have gross motor toys like a trampoline, basketball goal, bikes, etc.  
• 5:00-5:45:  play inside and upstairs (art, puzzles, sensory play such as a rice bin or PlayDoh, toy kitchen, books, etc.) while I make dinner
• 5:45-6:15:  dinner
• 6:15-6:30:  baths
• 6:30-7:00:  playing with Daddy while I lay out clothes and prepare lunches/snacks for the next day
• 7:00: get ready for bed
• 7:15:  Daddy puts our toddler to bed, I put the girls to bed, which involves, story, prayers, songs, etc.  
• 7:30-7:45:  bedtime (hopefully!)

As a former English teacher and as a writer, I greatly value reading.  We own thousands of books---yet I've noticed over time, they aren't being read (and appreciated) because even though we don't engage in a lot of "extras," we still are pretty limited on time.

I don't want to force my kids to read, like it's a punishment or something to rush through before moving on to something better, and I've realized I don't have to.  Kids naturally enjoy holding books, pointing out the funny details in the illustrations, and sounding out words.  They like when mom uses funny voices to share what characters are saying.   They are curious and excited.   

But in order to be these things, they need opportunities that aren't just going to happen.  We have to be intentional as parents.   

Here are some practical tips to work books into your daily schedule:

1:  Read to your children when they are a captive audience:  meal time, bath time, and bed time. 

Now, all three won't always work.  My older two kids prefer showers these days.  Bed time is usually when I'm the most exhausted and impatient.   So meal time often is the best option for us.   Since I usually serve the kids their meals first, it's easy for me to read to them before I eat my dinner.   I usually choose picture books for these times since they best hold the attention of all the kids (my son is 3.5 right now).   The book needs to have vibrant illustrations, and funny is usually best.    Another great option is to give each child a blank sheet of paper and a variety of coloring tools.  Read a picture book to them and have them draw what they are hearing.  After you're finished reading, have each child show their art and explain it to one another.   The "big reveal" makes my kids giddy!   And yet another option is to read and have the kids illustrate outside using sidewalk chalk.  The possibilities are endless! 

2:  Keep books everywhere.   

We have a basket under our buffet for library books.  There are "potty" themed books in the kids' bathroom.  We have books in their rooms and their playroom, and books in our living room (these are the coffee table books I shared with you in an earlier blog post).  It's tempting to pick up a book when one (or two or ten) is always in their line of vision.   

3:  Don't place limits.

Encourage your child to read anything and everything.  As a kid, I used to read shampoo bottles while showering and cereal boxes when eating breakfast.  I read my mom's Good Housekeeping magazines and my dad's books by Dale Carnegie that he had throughout the house.   If your eight-year-old wants to read his little sister's board books, fine.   

4:  Go with your child's interests.

Kids go through phases where they get hooked on various themes, people, and events.  My son is currently obsessed with firefighters and firetrucks.   My oldest has had a long-time obsession with unicorns.   My middle daughter loves anything superhero.    When you know your child's interests, utilize your local used bookstores and library to get books on those themes; remembering again that it's ok to choose books that are above or below their reading level (as long as the themes and language of the book is appropriate).   Make sure these are available in your kiddo's line of vision (see point #2).  

5:  Dramatic play.

I do something with my girls called a "lovey show."  It's where I take some of their stuffed animals and act out silly plays at bedtime.  They LOVE it.   The other night, my oldest asked if she could perform that evening's show.  She grabbed her little sister's easy reader version of Cinderella and read it while acting out the lines with her stuffed animals.   Brilliant!   She practiced reading while my younger daughter listened and delighted, as she always does, in the "action" of the show.   

6:  Rotate your books.  

Using a theme such as an upcoming holiday or season, pull out those books from your collection and have them in a "book spot" in your home.  Again, make sure this is a visible place.  I recommend purchasing a clear bin to hold your books.   Don't forget to get out a range of book types depending on your kids' ages, including:  board books, comic books, picture books, easy readers, and chapter books.  Even adult coffee table type books and magazines are appropriate.    These "new" books will delight your children and help them prepare for whatever upcoming event you are anticipating or preparing for.    We have a special bin of Christmas toys and books that only come out in December, and even my older girls are thrilled to see some of the board books I pull out!   Consider pulling out your favorite adoption books before a child's adoption day.  

7:  Use books as art.   

In our living room, we have one end table in which I display four coffee table books.  They are mostly art books, with little text, featuring people of color.   My kids love flipping through these books and pointing out their favorite pages.   Some books are too beautiful to be stuck on a dusty shelf.   Again, the more visible books are, the more likely they are to be read.

8:  Set the tone and time.

Have a set time and place each day for book exploring.   And make it cozy!   Throw some pillows and blankets on the living room floor and plop down with your bin of books.  Or tell the kids to race and grab a few books of their choosing and meet back up in your designated location.  One of my kids loves reading under the playroom table.  You can experiment with this.   Read with flashlights in a dark room.  Read by candlelight.  Read under a tree.  Read on the porch.   For kids who struggle with this, be sure to set a timer so they know there is an end time.   But if your kids are fully enjoying the time, don't worry about the timer.    

I absolutely recommend that kids be well-fed and well-exercised BEFORE attempting any reading time.    Immediately after school, as you saw on our schedule, is dedicated to a snack and gross motor play, not "sit down and read time."   So as you make plans to work these tips into your day, make sure you consider what's best for your kiddos and what works for your family.     

Also, here are tips on how to raise a reader without using electronics.  

Happy reading!