Looking for read aloud tips for busy parents? These 5 tips will help you fit read aloud sessions into your schedule with ease!

This post is sponsored by HarperCollins.

Can you believe we're talking about back to school tips and tricks? Yup, we're here. But the truth is, read aloud tips and ways to encourage reading books as a family? These are really year round issues. It's commonly suggested that families read at least 1,000 books aloud with their children BEFORE they start kindergarten. And guess what? That recommendation to read aloud everyday? Doesn't disappear when your child starts Kindergarten. Reading Aloud starts to look a little different, but it is STILL recommended all the way through elementary school.

An easy way to get started is with HarperCollins I Can Read! early reader series. I Can Read! books are organized into color-coded levels, so it's easy to start simple. There are fun and engaging books at every level….and a ton of them have characters your kids will recognize and be excited to read about (Lydia's favorites are Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious).

Yes, I'm telling you that the story time is continuing, and there are resources and tactics to help you out.We're all BUSY. And sometimes, putting aside time to encourage reading and to read aloud with your family? Can be difficult. But as a teacher and a parent, I'm here to tell you how important it is.As a busy  working mom, I get it. So I'm sharing my BEST read aloud tips……five ways to fit reading with your family into your busy schedule.

5 Read Aloud Tips for Busy Parents

Read Alouds Don't Have to Be At Bedtime: We always think that read aloud sessions have to be right at bedtime.  That's not the case.  If bedtime routines are a tough time…..plan a different time to read with your children.  After school? Right after dinner? Dessert then books?

Take Turns: Let's be real, we all need nights off, right? Take turns as parents. You don't BOTH need to sit there for every storytime. It's better to be enthusiastic, so take turns doing read aloud sessions.

Books with a Theme: Want to build some excitement around reading time? Pick a group of books with a theme. Pick a character of the month (we're currently reading all the FANCY NANCY books available in the I CAN READ! series and Lydia is OBSESSED).

Family Goals and Rewards: Come up with fun family goals to celebrate your accomplishments. Finish all the I CAN READ! books about Paddington, then rent the Paddington movies and have a family movie night!

Read Together with I Can Read! Books: The older your child gets…..the more you can move into a reading TOGETHER plan versus a grownup only read aloud. My top suggestion? I CAN READ! BOOKS . I've used them with my students every single year since I started teaching….and now, we are starting to use them with Lydia. Start by reading those books out loud, then as you read them for the second or third time….depending on their own reading level, your child can fill in words or even read whole pages. They'll love having the chance to read aloud to YOU! Plus the I Can Read! website provides printable activities to even further engage your growing reader.

Want to prep for read aloud time with YOUR family and be ready for back-to-school? Harper Collins and I Can Read! Books have got you covered:

Enter to win a set of  five I Can Read! books plus a State Bags Backpack!

reading to kids