Father's Day

Father's Day weekend is coming fast, and if you're looking for a sweet, sentimental, or silly gift that kids and dads, grandpas, or father figures can enjoy together, here's a great reading gift list to get you started!

In 2019, Psychology Today published an article detailing the unique benefits for children who read with fathers and father figures. Research "shows that mothers do read to their children more often than fathers. But research also tells us that fathers have… vital roles to play in their children's literacy development."

So what is it about reading with Dad that hits a little differently? Moms often focus on a story's content with kids, while dads use stories as a springboard for wide-ranging conversations. Reading with a male caregiver also models reading for growing boys--and helps keep them reading! AND, studies show that reading with the kids before bed helps dads just as much as it does the kids. Male caregivers report that reading with "their children at bedtime helps them feel emotionally and physically closer to their kids, especially if they have to be away all day at work."

That's a win for everyone!

To all the dads, grandads, uncles, stepdads, and father figures out there, I wish you a wonderful weekend -- and keep up the good reading!