As a longtime teacher, I have many thoughts and much experience to share when it comes to the practice of reading to children at home, but it is my perspective as a mother and grandmother that I want to share with you today.

There was a 12-year age difference between my oldest son and my youngest. A cherished memory for me is having my youngest two children, closer in age, sprawled out on my bed as I read to them. Without fail, my high school son would wander in and flop down on the bed with us for our nightly reading time. It was extraordinary to me that my teenage son wanted to be with me and his younger siblings for this evening ritual.

I recently asked him what he remembered about that time, and he responded, “I loved the combination of the quiet wind-down routine every day and all the different stories, worlds and characters I was introduced to.” I asked him to ask my granddaughters, now aged 5 and 3, what they most love about their bedtime stories. My 5-year-old granddaughter responded, “It is my special time I get every day.” My 3-year-old granddaughter replied, “I like hearing adventures.”

Reading to and with our children is a never-ending gift that builds treasured memories. The best part is you can do it anywhere, and if you take advantage of your local library, it is free.

Reading at home does more than create lifelong memories. It sets our children up for success at school. It gives children background knowledge, fosters empathy, and increases their vocabulary.

I promise not to go down the rabbit hole of research and data, which, admittedly, teachers love to do. However, I must share just one compelling piece of evidence regarding the dramatic impact of how reading at home impacts school success. In the article titled “When Children Are Not Read To At Home: The Million Word Gap,” co-authored by Jessica A. R. Logan, Laura M. Justice, Melike Yumuş, and Leydi Johana Chaparro-Moreno, the authors’ research demonstrates that: “Cumulatively, over the five years before kindergarten entry, we estimate that children from literacy-rich homes hear a cumulative 1.4 million more words during storybook reading than children who are never read to.”

My hope is that I have convinced you to join me in a joyous journey during the month of February (and, hopefully, beyond) as part of the 10th anniversary of the Maine Department of Education’s Read to Me Challenge!

Please visit Read Across America for resources and ideas, as you are making reading memories with the children in your lives.

Here’s to many more reading memories being made across Maine.

Vickie Lailer of Salem Township is a second grade teacher at W.G. Mallett School in Farmington. She is also the 2024 Franklin County Teacher of the Year.