Why This Holiday Season Is the Perfect Time to Build Reading Habits in Children

The holidays are almost here. School bags are slowly being zipped away. Alarms don’t ring as early. And children finally breathe out, knowing a few weeks of freedom stretch ahead of them. This break is when parents often wonder—how do we keep them engaged, curious, and off screens for at least part of the day? The answer is simple, timeless, and still undefeated: give them books.

Reading is not just an academic skill. It is a window to the world. And the earlier children understand this, the richer their lives will become. The holiday season, with its slower pace and softer days, is a beautiful opportunity for families to bring back the ritual of reading—not as a task, but as joy.

Children naturally mimic what they see. So, when parents sit down with a book, even for a few minutes a day, it creates a powerful visual imprint. A child who sees reading as part of daily life is far more likely to pick it up voluntarily. And here’s the magic—once the habit forms, books begin to take over. They become silent companions, entertainers, and teachers all rolled into one. There’s a reason why we’ve all heard it said: books are your best friends. It’s not just a cliché—it’s a quiet truth passed down through generations.

What makes books so powerful is that they don’t just pass time; they shape perspective. A good story can do what no lecture can. It can teach empathy, resilience, imagination, and cultural awareness. Whether it’s a tale about a forest adventure, a girl chasing stars, or a boy navigating school with courage—books help children see themselves and others with new eyes.

This holiday season, encourage your kids to read across languages. English books are important, yes—they build vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. But regional language books carry a different kind of emotional depth. They connect children with their roots, their grandparents, and their culture. When a child reads in their mother tongue, they’re not just learning words—they’re absorbing identity.

So don’t worry if your child prefers a Bengali folktale over an international bestseller or a Hindi comic over a famous English series. What matters is that they are reading. And the best kind of reading is the one done with pleasure. Let them choose. Let them explore.

Also, don’t underestimate the impact of simple picture books or comics for younger kids. Visual reading stimulates creativity, builds association skills, and often becomes the starting point of a lifelong reading journey. And for older children, holiday reading can be a gentle entry into genres they haven’t tried yet—mystery, fantasy, biographies, or even poetry.

Books teach us patience in a world obsessed with speed. They invite us to sit still, to imagine, to reflect. In a time where entertainment is just a tap away, the act of turning pages feels almost meditative. For children growing up in the age of reels and algorithms, reading is one of the few ways they can develop sustained focus, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence.

Even fifteen minutes of reading a day can create ripple effects. It improves writing. It strengthens comprehension. It expands curiosity. And most importantly, it keeps the wonder alive. Because unlike passive screen time, reading is active engagement. It’s co-creation between the writer and the reader.

And yes, reading as a family matters too. Storytime isn’t just for toddlers. Reading aloud—even a page or two of a short story—can become a treasured family ritual. Pick a time: post-lunch, before bed, or on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Let the voices come alive. Let the stories travel.

The point isn’t to finish a book. The point is to build a bond—with stories, with language, with each other.

So, as you shop for gifts this season, throw a few books into the mix. Wrap them up with as much love as you would a toy or gadget. They may not light up or play music, but they have the power to light up a child’s inner world in a way no device ever can.

Give them fantasy. Give them folklore. Give them characters who win, fail, try again, and grow.

Because one day, long after the toys are forgotten, your child might remember a certain book they read one winter holiday. And maybe, just maybe, it shaped who they became.