The rapid rise in technology has provided a host of benefits. Our lives are far more manageable, but with the advent of all the latest games and gadgets, competing with electronics is no mean feat. It's no wonder books seem to have taken a back seat, as our kids are glued to screens. PlayStations, Xboxes, laptops, and mobile devices are all within easy reach. 

Let's not forget TV and the many streaming services that have captured our children's unwavering attention. Research has shown that watching large amounts of TV reduces the volume in your frontal cortex, or, more simply, you lose your grey matter. Mom was right—TV really will destroy those brain cells!

So, how can we steer our kids away from the allure of electronics and towards the joy of reading? Let's explore some creative and effective strategies.

Book Subscription Boxes For Kids

Our Tween Book Subscription Boxes offer a unique reading experience that your child will cherish. Unlike standard book club subscriptions, our boxes are packed with surprises every other month, making the reading journey interactive and exciting for kids. These boxes are designed to spark children’s imaginations and foster a deep love for reading.

Each box contains a newly released novel and 3-5 wrapped gifts labeled with corresponding page numbers, carefully selected to bring the pages to life. As the story captivates their imagination, you can't help feeling the anticipation rise as they are prompted to open each gift at specific page numbers.

Family Book Club

Starting a family book club is a great way to bond and get to know each other better. You can choose books appropriate for your family members' ages, such as Winterhouse by Ben Guterson in our “A Daring Hunt for Clues” book box. By reading together and discussing the book, you will discover your child's outlook and perspective on the story and build a closer bond with your family.

As you read through different stories and discuss the themes, characters, and plotlines, you can better understand each other and learn to appreciate each other's unique perspectives. Remember that reading a shared book is an enjoyable and great way to start meaningful conversations and connect.

Make it a big event that the whole family will look forward to. First, take the children to the local bookstore for this month's supply. It's great for them to see the vast variety of books they can choose from in person. Once you have captured their attention, you can switch to online shopping.

Of course, it's book club night. The kids can dress up and sit for a great meal while sharing their views and thoughts. There will definitely be no need to wonder how to get the kids talking. On a side note, don't forget to ban those mobiles from the table!

Reading Challenge

There is nothing like a challenge to bring a competitive spirit out in each of us. A family reading challenge is an excellent way for kids to swap their electronics for many great books. Who can read the most pages or the most books? Simply decide on the prize and get reading.

Prizes don't have to cost anything; we'd rather spend our money on books. They can be simple, like the loser doing the winner's chores for the week or the winner choosing the movie for family night. Get creative; if you run out of ideas, we are sure the kids will have many suggestions.

For ideas, check out our blog on Year-Round Reading Challenges to Keep Kids Engaged.

Turning Games Into Books

If you have never sat down and watched your child play a game on their PlayStation or Xbox, you may be surprised to learn that each game has a story behind it—although, in all honesty, some of them pass us by.

Challenge your child to write a story about their game. They can expand on the characters, add their own, or even create multiple endings. Go the extra mile by offering an enticing incentive – yes, play one of their games with them.

Learn a New Skill

There is a saying: if you can read, you can do anything. Learning a new skill is always fun, and the options are endless. Challenge your child to learn a new skill, then teach it to the rest of the family.

Learning a new skill has so many unexpected benefits. It shows them that with a bit of perseverance, there isn't anything they can't learn to do. It also stretches them and sometimes can take them out of their comfort zone. When reading books that teach your child new skills, they get the bonus of improving their vocabulary, which is the perfect introduction to our next suggestion.

Vocabulary Challenge

We love the power and beauty of words, yet many go unused. The dictionary is full of words that are hardly used. Building one's vocabulary is critical to advancing to the next level in reading.

Many children don't bother to learn what a new word means; they simply read. Now that your kids are reading, it's time to challenge their vocabulary. How many new words can they learn in a week and start using regularly?

Vocabulary challenges are significant and so easy to do. Every time someone learns a new word, they must write it down on a card and put the definition on the back. At the end of the week or month, it's challenge time – who has learned the most words, but more importantly, do they still know what they mean?

Movie Night

So many books have been made into movies, and it’s always fun to watch one—but only after everyone has read the book! We are always surprised that the movie characters generally don’t look at all like we imagined (and if we are honest, ours were always better!).

And it’s fun to see how they adapted the book for the big screen - what they left out, what they changed, and finally, which was better, their version or ours?

Keeping It Fun and Interactive

Competing with electronics is no mean feat, but if you make it fun, engaging, and interactive, you will be more than halfway there. Just remember your kids learn from you and will follow your example, so ensure they don’t always find you in front of a screen!