ASHLEY’S CORNER GETTING OUR KIDS HOOKED ON BOOKS
One of our kids’ resolutions this year was to read every day. Educators are really pushing reading skills; students are required to read at least 20–30 minutes a day. But getting kids interested in reading amid all their other activities, distractions, and competing media can be tough. Many families default to having their kids read at bedtime. But for me, reading at bedtime is exhausting. Trying to do 20–30 minutes of reading at the end of the day works for a lot of people, but it doesn’t work for me. With March 2 being Read Across America Day, I’m happy to report that after tinkering with our daily routines, finding books the kids like, and giving each one their own little portable, clip-on book light, we’ve managed to make reading at home something the kids enjoy … or at least something they don’t want to avoid!
The kids still read at night, and our new bedtime routine has been working great. We all get ready for bed, and I talk with each of the kids for a few minutes. Then, it’s “lights out.” We gave each of the
kids a cool little book light that hooks onto their books, and they’re obsessed with them. They’re even asking me, “How many minutes can we read?” One of Roz’s goals is to read 20 minutes every day for 365 days in a row. The solution also lies in finding something the kids like to read. Roz, who’s in second grade, loves books from the Rainbow Fairies series, by a group of writers collaborating under the pseudonym Daisy Meadows. The series tells the stories of seven fairies, including Ruby the Red Fairy and Amber the Orange Fairy. Roz is on book six, “Inky the Indigo Fairy,” and she’s reading the books to Tess, who’s in kindergarten. Meanwhile, the boys enjoy chapter books about sports.
Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t reinvented the wheel here. But we’ve made some progress. For one thing, we’ve moved our main 20–30 minutes of reading time from bedtime to the afternoon. After school, I tell them, “Let’s all wind down and give our brains a little break,” and they take turns reading and doing the math games they’re assigned. The solution is finding where in your day reading fits best for you.
Bedtime has been so easy and glorious. I can’t believe what’s happening!
At our house, we’ll be celebrating Read Across America Day big time this year! After years of trying to spark our kids’ interest in reading, I feel like we’re finally heading in the right direction.
Moroccan-Spiced Chicken and Couscous Skillet
Take a Break
Ingredients
•
1.25 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
•
1 large carrot, sliced into coins
• 2 garlic cloves, minced •
• • • • • • • •
1 tbsp olive oil
1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp brown sugar 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• •
1 cup dry pearl couscous
1/4 cup medjool dates, pitted and chopped
1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp kosher salt
• •
1 1/2 cups chicken stock 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
1 shallot, thinly sliced
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. 2.
Toss chicken with olive oil, sugar, spices, and salt; let marinate for 10 minutes. 3. Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium. Sear chicken thighs for 3–4 minutes per side, transfer to a plate, leaving 1 tbsp of rendered fat in skillet. 4. Add shallot, carrot, and garlic. Sauté for 2–3 minutes. 5. Add chickpeas, couscous, dates, and chicken stock and boil over high heat. 6. Add chicken thighs back and top with lemon. 7. Put skillet in the oven for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. 8. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Solution on Page 4
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