How We Will Read 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

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Learn how I am getting my boys to read 1,000 books before they start kindergarten and how you can add books to your personal library for free!

If there is one thing I have learned about kids from being a mom it’s that habit and routine are key to having a fun, happy, stress-free (most of the time) day. I can always tell when we step out of our routine because there will always be a meltdown or someone who just doesn’t want to listen. Building a schedule for your kid(s) doesn’t happen over night and it does take some work, but once you find a routine that works for them (and you) stick with it; you’ll be so happy you did!

Our morning routine goes a little something like this:

• Wake up and have cuddle time for 5 minutes or so
• Have breakfast (usually cereal or eggs or both)
• Clean up (take dishes to sink, wash hands, brush teeth) 
• Go upstairs, get dressed and make beds
• Story Time (we read at least 2 books and more as long as they are loving it. There have been days where we read for an hour.)
• Snack Time (sometimes at the same time as story time)
• Play Time
• Lunch

My boys love, Love, LOVE to read, or I should say be read to. It doesn’t matter if we have read the same story a thousand times they still love to hear it again and again. Libraries across the country are introducing the program “Read 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” and I have jumped on board too. Did you know that if you read just 3 books a day you’re child will have read 1,000 books before Kindergarten?! Since we’ve started reading every day, multiple times a day, I have noticed a great change in how much and how well my two and three year old boys talk. There are things they pick up from stories that they will repeat in every day conversation, and it’s just so darn cute!

Going to the library is a weekly adventure we love but it’s fun to have your own books too. When I was at Walmart picking up snacks for the weekend I saw that Rice Krispies had a free book offer on the box (you may remember how much my boys love Rice Krispies from my Baseball Mom Essentials in May). I needed to get some cereal too and was excited to see that Kellogg’s was offering the free book offer on most of their products. Here’s how it works: 

1. Buy specially marked boxes of Kellogg’s Cereals or Treats. You can also purchase online from 7/21-9/11 and upload your receipts via text, scanning in your computer, or on the Kellogg’s Family Rewards App.
2. Enjoy treats and find code on inside of box.
3. Go to Kellogg’s Family Rewards and sign up for an account (or use your existing account).
4. Enter code found in box up to 14 days after purchase.
5. Let your kids choose from over 80 Scholastic books available in both e-book or hard copy.
6. Pick book and proceed to check-out (if you choose a hard copy book shipping is free you are just verifying you want to use your code for that book).
7. E-book can be read through your Scholastic Library (easy to setup and instructions sent via email) right away and hard copy books will be mailed within 6-8 weeks.
8. Enjoy more snacks and read books with your kids.

I love that you can do either an e-book or hard copy book and that you can keep your book or choose to donate it. We did an e-book at first for the instant gratification and because it’s easier to take a tablet on a road trip vs. a pile of books. And now we can add to our personal library so the boys can enjoy their favorites over and over again. 

 

Our first choices were Clifford and The Magic School Bus. Check out the list of free books you can choose, let me know which ones you’ll be adding to your personal library, and join me in the challenge to read 1,000 books before Kindergarten! #Back2SchoolReady