Start a Parent & Child Book Club
Read, Bond and Socialize With a Family Book Discussion Group
Oct 28, 2009
“So, Mom, how’s the book?” the fifteen-year-old girl asks her mother.
“Mm, OK,” answers the mother, engrossed in her thriller.
“You know, they sell Twilight Mom tee shirts over on Café Press,” the daughter prompts.
“Well, I like it, but I don’t think I’d take it that far,” answers the forty-eight year old mom, chuckling. She is now on page 400 of the Twilight tome.
What this mom and daughter are doing is something that happens in living rooms all over America – parents and kids devouring the same book. Whether it is the Twilight Series, an Alex Rider mystery, or Nicholas’ Sparks latest romance, parents and kids often derive joy from reading the same novels and non-fiction books. Why not take sharing reads among the family circle one step further, and start up a Parent and Child Book Group?
The Benefits of a Parent & Child Book Group
Whether the kids are 6 or 16, shared book reading and discussions are a great way to encourage reading, as well as build comprehension and retention skills. Book clubs and discussions can also be a great family bonding experience, and encourage socialization among other families with kids the same age, gender or grade level. Follow the tips below to see how easy it is to start a up a group – at home, at the local library, or in another meet-up site.
The first step is to reach out to prospective members. Try calling a few playmates, contact teachers and school officials, and post a notice at the local library or bookstore. Older kids can also use their online social networks to put out word that a new book discussion group is forming.
Here are more steps to follow:
- Decide upon the size of the group, and the age range and gender of group members.
- Set up a location and regular schedule for book club meetings.
- Establish rules, such as mandatory attendance, timing when books should be finished, etc.
- Choose age-appropriate books, from among picture books, poetry, short chapter books, adventure novels, science and other non-fiction titles.
- Advise members how to obtain selections, including library borrowing and purchasing from bookstores or sites like Amazon.com.
- Make up a set of questions for members to answer and discuss; consider topics like writing style, book genre, and favorite characters.
- Supplement discussion with activities, such as puzzles, craft projects, drawing and coloring, a writing exercise, or even a museum trip.
- Ask members to share a piece of their own writing, especially when it is something relevant to the current book.
It would probably also be beneficial to have Parent & Child Book Club members set up a special box or folder that they can store all of their book club sheets and materials in.
Sharing different perspectives on a books, characters, subjects and genres is a wonderful inter-generational educational activity. Starting up a Parent and Child Book Club will help children of every age to build their reading skills and analytical abilities, as well as spread the love of reading. Having a Mom & Me Book Club is a beneficial to the family and its circle of friends, and furthermore can be a nice boost for a local library or bookstore.
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