My Child Won’t Sit Still for Story Time. What Can I Do?
Your child moves, flips pages, or walks away mid-book. Try reading where they play, adding movement, and sharing one page at a time.
The Reading To Connect blog
Author: Quinn Cummings
Quinn Cummings, CFLE-P, is the founder of Reading To Connect and creator of The ENGAGE Method®, a six-phase framework for Engaged Shared Reading™: reading with presence, not pressure. She is under contract with Reycraft Books for the picture book When We Open A Book. Engaged Shared Reading™ has been recognized in proclamations from Richardson, Garland, and Irving, Texas, and Camden County, New Jersey.
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9 articles
Is 20 Minutes of Reading a Day Enough? What Matters More Than the Minutes
You've heard read 20 minutes a day. What happens while you read matters too. Try two ways to make room for your child's ideas, even in a short reading session.
My Child Feels Left Out at School. What Should I Do?
When your child feels left out at school, know what to say, what to record, and how to ask for help. Includes a teacher email and follow-up steps.
Empathy Activities for Kids: Everyday Ways to Practice at Home
Try four empathy activities for kids at home, with practical examples for listening, offering help, sharing memories, and reading together.
How to Build Confidence in Kids When They Say “I Can’t”
When your child says “I can’t,” find out what feels hard. Try practical ways to offer support, make a task manageable, and leave room for mistakes.
Questions to Ask Instead of “How Was Your Day?”
Six questions to ask instead of “How was your day?”, with ways to listen, make room for quiet, and respond when your child shares a concern.
Too Tired to Read to Your Kids at Night? Read This
Too tired for bedtime reading? Try one page, share a short memory, or choose another time of day. Reading together can fit the energy you have.
My Child Wants the Same Book Every Night. Now What?
Reading the same book over and over? Try three ways to notice your child, share a memory, and imagine a new ending while you read together.
Benefits of Reading With Your Child
Explore what shared reading can offer beyond literacy, with ways to notice, share, and get to know each other through books.
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