The Magic of Reading at Christmas: Stories That Warm the Heart
Christmas is always awaited every year. Families are gathering at home to celebrate it with a dinner full of laughter and happiness. Meanwhile, kids are happy waiting for their Christmas presents.
What can make it better? Of course, the magic of reading books at Christmas! It’s the perfect time to read with kids and make the holiday more memorable! Christmas stories always make the season more special. The stories remind us to dream big, be kind, and believe in love, magic, and others.
So, prepare yourself. Grab your favorite holiday book, get comfy on your couch, and let’s discover the magic of Christmas.
The Joy of Reading During the Holiday Season
December can get super busy since you have to prepare decorations, food, and presents! However, you can slow down and make a moment that is fun and unforgettable, especially with your kids!
Gather in the living room, with a Christmas tree and its twinkling lights, and feel the warmth of the fireplace. Play the holiday song and prepare cookies. Then, you can read the Christmas stories together. It will be so exciting and fun!
Reading during the holidays can help kids build creativity, understand empathy, and, of course, explore the new world. The stories usually teach us about hope, kindness, love, togetherness, and happiness, reminding us of what Christmas is truly about.
Books Kids Will Love at Christmas
There are many good books to make Christmas with kids more magical. Here is a list of some of the best Christmas books for families.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” by Seuss. A classic story where you can find the magic of reading books at Christmas. A grumpy creature really hates Christmas and steals Whos’ decorations and gifts in Whoville. However, in the end, he understands that Christmas is full of joy, love, and togetherness.
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Another classic Christmas story full of fantasy. A boy takes a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. During his trip, he learns that Christmas magic becomes real when you truly believe.
- Dylan the Dino Boy Saves Christmas by Andy Day. This modern Christmas story tells of Dylan’s adventure when he turns into a dinosaur a week before Christmas, bringing disaster that may ruin that holiday! Can he save Christmas?
Try to find books that fit kids’ ages. If you can’t find the perfect one, you can even create your own!
How to Turn Storytime into a Christmas Adventure
When it’s time for stories at Christmas, don’t just read books plainly. You can make it more fun with a variety of activities. Go on an adventure even though you’re having story time at home!
Here are some ways to bring stories to life. Prepare to have a memorable Christmas!
1. Use more expressions
To make the story more alive, you can pretend to be Santa Claus with his signature laugh. Use different voices for each character or give some sound effects. Show more expressions when it’s happy, scary, or funny. Be as dramatic as you can!
2. Have a Shadow Play
You can use shadow play while reading dramatic scenes to make the magic of reading books at Christmas come alive. By using a flashlight and some cut-out paper shapes (or even your hands!), you can make shadows on the wall. From deer, trees, dogs, or anything in the story, to make it more playful!
3. Let Kids Illustrate the Story
After reading a few story pages, pause a moment, then ask kids to draw and guess what they think happens next. By doing this, they will not only listen to the story but also use their imagination and creativity to create a new possible adventure. The story time will be more interactive and fun.
Reading together will make family time warmer and memorable, especially during Christmas. That’s why doing something fun while reading will be a joyful holiday activity.
Keeping the Magic of Reading Alive Every Year
Don’t let the fun of reading be taken from you when Christmas is already over! You can keep the magic of reading books at Christmas alive all year long!
But how do you do that? Here are some activities you can do with kids to make reading a fun habit.
- Keep a “Christmas Reading Scrapbook”
Making a scrapbook will be fun! This will be a keepsake that kids revisit every year. They can add and decorate the scrapbook with a drawing of their favorite scene or character from the story, the book title they read, or several words that show their opinion about the story.
- Visit the local library or bookstore
Libraries often host reading challenges or storytime events, perfect for keeping kids’ reading spirits alive. Sometimes, it’s good to have a reading purpose and a challenge. Going to a bookstore and letting kids choose books they want will be fun, too.
- Have a Reading Scavenger Hunt
Making kids curious about the book they will read during Christmas can be exciting! You can hide several clues related to that book around the house, whether they are stickers, bookmarks, or pictures of the characters. Then, after they found the clues, you can start the story time.
Of course, there are so many ways you can make the reading more alive or more fun each year. You can make those part of Christmas reading traditions for kids, so they will be excited to wait for story time at the holiday!
Reading is one of the simplest but powerful ways to spend time and share love during holidays. The magic of reading books at Christmas is more than just having stories. You can make unforgettable memories while reading. Besides, the stories will always entertain while teaching us life lessons.
Are you ready to spare time this Christmas by opening books and diving into a new fantasy world with your family? So grab a book, and let the Christmas magic begin!
