This is a guest post by Deltonya Rawlins Sayers, 2nd Grade Teacher, Epic Teacher Ambassador & Crayons & Curriculum Founder @crayons.and.curriculum
Finding Stillness: Why the Holidays Are a Perfect Time to Reignite Reading at Home
Somewhere in between the hustle and bustle of the holiday season lies the precious and rare commodity of stillness. No early morning drop-offs. No snoozed alarms. No homework checklists. Instead, moments where families have time to pause, reconnect and rediscover the joys and interests that bring them together. What better way to spark curiosity and create moments of joy than to give children the opportunity to revisit their favorite familiar stories, discover a new genre or share books that highlight family traditions and spark conversations that bring families closer together?
That’s what makes holiday reading at home such a perfect fit this time of year—kids can curl up with a favorite story, explore a brand-new genre or join in family read-alouds that spark laughter and conversation. With a few cozy reading routines and fun reading activities woven into the break, reading feels less like a task and more like something you share. And if you’re traveling, digital reading with Epic makes it easy to bring a whole library along wherever the holidays take you.
Reframing Reading: From Homework to Adventure
As an educator, one of my joys is being able to create a space where students view reading as an adventure rather than a task. It is an opportunity to step outside of their world and enter into a new one. To transform from a normal student in a classroom or at home into a T. rex hunting its prey deep in the jungle, an astronaut discovering a new planet or a ballerina traveling to a recital via magical unicorn. Reading during the holidays is the perfect time to shift the focus from reading minutes and reading levels to shared reading moments, laughter and conversation—which are equally powerful indicators of growth.
How to Make Reading Fun and Engaging at Home
Families often ask me, “How can we make reading fun and engaging at home?”
There is significant power in making reading feel like an experience. Children tend to light up when reading transforms from something they do for someone into something they do with someone. Those moments start at home.
6 Creative Reading Activities for the Holiday Season
Build a Festive Fort
Set up a cozy corner with pillows, blankets, string lights, flashlights and stuffed animals. Include a basket of winter or holiday-themed books.
Host a Festive Family Read-aloud Night
Prepare cookies and cocoa and take turns reading a book or a chapter. Add animated voices and gestures to bring the story to life.
Pair Books with Creativity
After reading, make a craft, recipe, or LEGO build inspired by the story. Or get inspired by one of the holiday book-based activities Epic Ambassadors shared recently!
Holiday Reading Countdown
Wrap 12–25 books. Kids open one each day to read as a surprise.
Reading Scavenger Hunts
Hide books around the house with clues or riddles leading to the next one.
Reading with Family Traditions
Connect books to cultural traditions. Read stories about celebrations, foods or values your family honors.
Going Digital: Reading on the Go with Epic
Use digital platforms like Epic to carry a library anywhere. Whether traveling locally or globally, challenge your scholar to find a book that matches the setting they are in. For example, if your family visits the beach, the mountains or a park, challenge your child to find a book with that same setting.
Access plays a huge role in bridging the reading gap between school and home. Many families don’t have large shelves of books, transportation to a library or time to search for leveled text. That’s where a digital tool like Epic fits in. And as an educator who uses Epic day-to-day, I could not recommend it more. Like a giant literacy puzzle piece, Epic unlocks a whole new world of access, no matter where readers are. Whether sitting at a sibling’s practice, riding in the car or settling in at bedtime, that next great adventure is only a finger tap away.
Reading Is a Relationship, Not a Requirement
The holiday season is a gentle reminder that reading is, at its core, relational. When teachers and parents work together, they create a home–school partnership that helps every child see themselves as a reader, not just during the holidays, but all year long.
About the Author:
Mrs. Rawlins Sayers (@crayons.and.curriculum) is a passionate second-grade teacher who brings big energy, bright ideas, and hands-on creativity to every lesson, turning ordinary moments into magical learning experiences. She champions curiosity, community, and fun to help every student feel safe, seen, and excited to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ Why are the holidays a great time to build reading habits at home?
Holiday breaks often bring more breathing room—less rushing, fewer routines and more chances to slow down together. That “stillness” creates space for reading to feel cozy, connecting and joyful.
▶ How can I help my child see reading as fun and not as homework?
Shift the focus from “minutes and levels” to moments: shared laughter, imagination and conversations. When reading feels like an adventure, kids are more likely to choose it on their own.
▶ What if my child only wants to reread favorite books?
That’s a win. Rereading builds confidence and fluency, and kids often understand more each time. Try asking: “What did you notice this time that you missed before?”
▶ What are easy ways to make reading feel special at home?
Make it an experience. A cozy setup, family participation and playful routines can turn reading into something kids do with you, not just something they do alone.
▶ What are some holiday reading activities we can try this week?
Here are six fun ideas to start with:
- Build a Festive Fort: Pillows, blankets, string lights/flashlights, stuffed animals, and a basket of themed books.
- Family Read-Aloud Night: Cocoa + cookies + turns reading.
- Pair Books with Creativity: Craft, recipe, or LEGO build inspired by the story.
- Holiday Reading Countdown: Wrap 12–25 books and open one each day.
- Reading Scavenger Hunt: Hide books with clues or riddles leading to the next.
- Read with Family Traditions: Choose stories tied to your celebrations, foods and values.
▶ What’s a simple holiday reading routine that actually sticks?
Keep it light and consistent:
- 10 minutes at bedtime
- one family read-aloud night each week
- bring a book for “in-between” moments (car rides, waiting rooms, sibling practices)
▶ How can I get siblings involved if they’re different ages?
Try a read-aloud that everyone can enjoy, or let each child pick their own book and share a quick “tell me about it” recap afterward. Same moment, different books.
▶ How can we keep reading going while traveling or on the go?
Plan for the pockets of downtime. Keep a few books ready and make reading a go-to activity in the car, at appointments, or at bedtime.
▶ How can Epic help during the holiday season?
Epic makes it easy to carry a library anywhere—helpful for busy schedules, travel and families who don’t have shelves of books at home. When access is easier, reading can happen more often. We also have a limited-edition holiday badge to help motivate kids to read this month! Kids can earn badges and level up all month long by reading from our A Very Epic Holiday collection.
▶ What if we don’t have many books at home?
You’re not alone. Access can be a real barrier. Epic can help families find books quickly and make reading possible in more places, more often.
