How to Celebrate National Reading Month at Home

March is here… which means it’s National Reading Month and we’re officially entering our cozy, book-lovers era!

If you’ve ever thought, “I want my kids to love reading… but I’m not sure how to make it fun at home?” you’re in the right place.

At Playground Press, we believe reading shouldn’t feel like pressure. It should feel like connection. It should feel like giggles under blankets, dramatic character voices, fridge-covered book logs, siblings reading to siblings, and proud little hands holding homemade bookmarks!

So today, we’re sharing some of our favorite ways of how to celebrate National Reading Month at home! These are simple, playful, low-stress ideas your kids will actually love.

Why Celebrate National Reading Month at Home?

National Reading Month is the perfect excuse to:

• Start new reading routines
  

• Build excitement around books
  

• Strengthen literacy skills in a natural way
  

• Create sweet family memories

Reading at home builds SO much more than just the ability to “read words on a page.”

When your child is read to consistently, they’re developing rich vocabulary as they hear new words in context, strengthening comprehension as they learn to understand and talk about stories, and building sequencing skills as they begin to recognize what happened first, next, and last. They’re also growing essential listening skills such as learning to focus, follow along, and process information.

This all directly supports future academic success! On top of that, reading nurtures imagination, stretches attention span and focus, and quietly builds confidence as children begin to understand stories, retell them, and eventually read on their own. It may look simple but it’s laying the groundwork for everything that follows in literacy development. And when it’s done in a cozy, playful way? It builds love and connection too!

National Reading Month Activities Packet

 

We designed this 17-page printable packet to make celebrating National Reading Month easy, flexible, and fun for preschool through elementary-aged children.

Every activity is simple and requires no prep (just print!) and is easy to differentiate for different ages and skill levels!

Here’s what’s inside:

Book Logs

Track the books you read all month long by having them (or you) write the title on a book each time! 

Kids can:

• Write the book titles
  

• Draw pictures of their favorites
  

• Add stars for books they loved

Watching the list grow builds pride and motivation — and it’s such a sweet keepsake to look back on.

Fun Tip: Create a garland to decorate your space, celebrate the month, and show off all of the reading you are doing!

Reading-Themed Coloring Pages

Sometimes literacy development looks like crayons and quiet time, or just celebrating the month in this artistic way!

Coloring pages help:

• Strengthen fine motor skills
  

• Reinforce positive reading habits
  

• Give younger learners another way to participate
  

Perfect for super young learners who want to “do school” alongside older siblings, but are just as fun for any age!

Bookmark Bookworm Craft

Meet your child’s new reading buddy: an adorable bookworm bookmark!

This hands-on craft:

• Builds fine motor skills
  

• Encourages ownership of reading time
  

• Makes books feel special
  

Because everything is more fun with a cute little bookworm peeking out of your page.

Color-Your-Own Bookmarks

Kids can design and decorate their own bookmarks, adding creativity to reading time.

It’s simple, but powerful! When children create something for their books, they feel connected to the experience.

“I Love Reading” Apple Booklet

This one is a fan favorite!

The “I Love Reading” apple booklet encourages children to:

• Recall details from a story
  

• Think about characters
  

• Sequence events
  

• Express opinions
  

• Practice writing or drawing
  

It’s easy to differentiate:

• Younger kids can draw pictures.
  

• Emerging writers can write simple sentences.
  

• Older children can write detailed responses.

This activity supports:

• Critical thinking
  

• Reading comprehension
  

• Sequencing skills
  

• Creativity
  

• Fine motor development
  

And it turns reflection into something hands-on and meaningful.

Reading Month Bingo

Turn reading into a game!

Hang this on:

• The fridge
  

• Your reading corner
  

• A homeschool wall
  

• Anywhere your child can see it daily

Reading Bingo encourages kids to:

• Try different types of books
  

• Explore new reading experiences
  

• Stay motivated all month long
  

It transforms “go read” into “let’s see what square we can check off today!” 

Fun Parent Tip: Think of fun family rewards for when a child reaches “BINGO” on their cards!

Book-a-Day Tracker

A simple visual tracker to encourage daily reading habits.

Even just 10–15 minutes a day builds consistency, and consistency builds confident readers!

 

Book Review Activity

Encourage your child to share their thoughts about what they read.

This builds:

• Comprehension
  

• Opinion writing
  

• Communication skills
  

• Confidence in expressing ideas
  

And it’s so fun to see how differently siblings review the same book!

“Tell Me a Story”  First, Next, Last 

This sequencing activity encourages kids to:

• Retell stories or create their own
  

• Build narrative skills
  

• Practice early writing
  

• Strengthen logical thinking
  

For preschoolers, it can be entirely verbal. For elementary students, it becomes structured writing practice.

It grows with your child!

How Can I Differentiate Reading Activities for Different Ages?

One of the best parts of this packet? It’s designed for a range of learners preschool through elementary!

If an activity includes a writing element that isn’t quite at your child’s level yet, no stress! A simple and powerful way to adapt it is to have your child tell you exactly what they want to say while you write it down for them. Then, if they’re ready, they can trace your words afterward. 

This keeps them fully involved in the thinking, storytelling, and creativity part (which is the most important part!) while gently building early writing skills, dictation, letter recognition, and confidence!

This builds:

• Confidence
  

• Fine motor skills
  

• Letter awareness
  

• Early writing exposure
  

And it keeps reading joyful instead of frustrating.

How Do I Make National Reading Month Feel Special?

You don’t need a complicated plan.

Try:

• A cozy reading corner with blankets and pillows
  

• Flashlight reading nights
  

• Letting your child pick the books
  

• Family read-aloud time after dinner

• Read in a new place like a coffee shop or a park
  

• A “reading celebration” at the end of the month

Reading doesn’t have to look like a lesson. It can look like childhood.

The Real Goal of National Reading Month

It’s not about checking boxes.
It’s not about perfect handwriting.
It’s not about finishing the hardest book.

It’s about helping your child think:

 “Reading is fun!”
  “I love books!”
  “I can do this!”

When reading feels safe and playful at home, children are far more likely to carry that confidence into lifelong learning! And that’s what we’re really celebrating.

 

Your Turn!

If you’re looking for a simple, meaningful way to celebrate National Reading Month at home, our National Reading Month Activities Packet gives you everything you need  in one easy download.

Show us how you celebrate National Reading Month at home and build lifelong readers! Tag us at #PlaygroundPressKids or tag us on our socials!