Bonding over books is an excellent way to develop a lasting and meaningful relationship with the children in your life. Bond over favorites from your childhood; identify shared experiences between you, the child, and the book characters; help to open up discussion about tough topics; and just understand what they’re reading and taking away from those books. It’s good for you, it’s good for them.
In early childhood, talking with your children about what they’re reading is more about helping them learn to read and get ready to begin school. As children start to read on their own, you can keep the conversation going by asking questions that are open-ended, such as “What did you like and dislike about the book?” Then, as they become even more independent as tweens and teens, you can expand the discussions with deeper questions, like “What are the overarching themes of this book?”
Don’t worry—we’ve prepared prompts for parents/caregivers for this very reason. Find them as a handout in the Children’s Area or access them online.