6 Ideas for Get Caught Reading Month

The month of May is Get Caught Reading Month, a campaign to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read.

There's no better time to dive into all of your favourite books at home and start developing some positive reading habits with your children. Here's how you can get into the spirit of Get Caught Reading Month and start spreading the joys of reading at home.

1. Read comic books together

The second day of May is Free Comic Book Day. Comic books are a great way to entice even the most reluctant of readers, particularly those who tend to be visual learners and engage more easily with small snippets of text.

Comic books are fun to read aloud together, especially when you take turns doing the different voices. Try to ease into the month of reading with comics or graphic novels if your child tends to be a reluctant reader.

2. Create a 'Family Picks' booklist

Talk to aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, or grandparents and ask them to recommend their most cherished and beloved book. Compile a booklist with your child for the month of May and label each book under the names of your relatives (e.g. 'Uncle Pete's book' or 'Grandma's book').

As you tick off the special titles on your 'Family Picks' booklist, encourage your child to talk to their relatives about their best moments, characters, and quotes from the books. This is a great way to show your child how wonderful it feels to share the love of reading with others.

3. Have 'DEAR' time at home

The rules of DEAR, or 'Drop Everything and Read', are simple: during DEAR time everybody in the house must immediately drop what they're doing and read. Plan your DEAR time in advance, but remember to keep it to yourself in order to create a sense of excitement and spontaneity, similar to announcing a special treat.

4. 'Catch' your child reading by taking photos

Arm yourself with a camera or smartphone and get ready to snap photos of your children buried in a good book. You can create a collage of photos at the end of the month to hang on a wall or treasure as a keepsake, labelled 'Got caught reading!'

5. Host a book drive

A community book drive is a fun way to build enthusiasm for books and reading during the month of May. Arrange a book drive in your street and trade in already-read books for some exciting new ones.

6. Set up a book club with friends, relatives, or community members.

Invite over a group of avid young readers and choose a great book to read together. Encourage the group to take turns reading, help others who don't know a particular word, and share their thoughts about the story afterwards.