Reading out loud to your children is one of the best ways as a parent to get your little ones interested in reading and help them build their literacy skills. Sharing storytime can strengthen your family bond, improve their academics, and keep them excited about reading. Whether you pick up a book for enjoyment or to build their skills, this activity together is a way to enhance their abilities in a loving, nurturing environment. Raising Readers Build Bonds and Brains With Family Reading Time
Creamy Thai Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp coconut oil •
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1/4 cup almond butter 3 cups diced carrots 3 cups peeled, diced sweet potatoes Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups chopped yellow onion 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger 2 tbsp red curry paste
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Cayenne pepper (optional)
4 cups vegetable broth, divided
Take A Break Bring soup to a low boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are fork-tender. 4. Blend with an immersion blender until the soup is smooth. 5. Season with salt and pepper. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for more spice if desired. DIRECTIONS 1. Melt coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and sauté for 5–6 minutes. Stir in curry paste. 2. In a small bowl, whisk 1/3 cup broth with the almond butter until smooth. Add the mixture to the pot, along with the carrots, sweet potatoes, salt and pepper, and remaining vegetable broth. Stir to combine. 3.
STORYTIME AND FUN TIME If the goal is to enjoy some entertainment with your children, have them select the book. When they get to choose the story, it will keep them engaged and excited to hear the words. Don’t read too fast — read at a pace that allows them to truly take in the story’s context. Most importantly, have fun with it. Make sure to use inflection in your voice and dramatic facial expressions, and go ahead and pause for a laugh. If your child isn’t interested in the reading, try switching the book or acting out the different parts. READ ALOUD, RISE AHEAD Reading aloud can also help your child learn and build their skills. When trying to help your children academically, pick a book slightly above their reading level but still easy enough for them to follow along. Continue to make it fun by being animated when you read. This will help them build their vocabulary and learn new concepts. Make it engaging by asking questions about the book as you read and having them summarize after every few paragraphs. You can ask them to read along. FAMILY FUN Reading is an activity the whole family can enjoy, so invite everyone to participate in storytimes at home. You can turn it into a fun game by reading a passage and having the family guess the longest word. You can also take turns reading and discussing the book as a group. When everyone listens to stories together, it helps build social skills and gets everyone excited about reading. Reading aloud is a great way to foster a passion for reading, develop skills with words, and teach your children empathy. Even just 5–10 minutes of reading together daily can make a difference.
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