Some days, the idea of squeezing in story time with my daughter is the last thing I want to think about.  The day was crazy, I've still got a ridiculously long to-do list, dinner isn't ready, homework isn't done...and I need to sleep sometime.  What's a parent to do?  As I've discovered by listening to other moms -- and reading their blogs -- there are lots of options that don't involve turning on the television.

A.     Grab an audio book!  Let someone else tell the story.  Your child can follow along -- just like she does when you read.  Libraries often purchase audio books separate from hardcover editions, so ask your librarian about children's books they have on the shelves and on CD.
 
B.     You be the kid.  Let your child pick a couple of his favorite stories and read them to you.  Yes, it may be a book he or she has memorized, but that's okay.  He or she is still practicing and enjoying a book.  And you get to relax.  
 
C.     Open a digital book.  There are a number of online resources that offer books kids can read online for free.  How the book is presented varies from site to site: some places recreate the look of a page, others don't.

I don't own an e-Reader or phone which I can use as an audio player.  But lots of other people do.  Search for some books that will work on your device so that you can have them handy while you're standing in line at the grocery store, waiting in the doctor's office, sitting in traffic...you get the idea.

Would you want to do this every day?  Well, maybe.  But, no.  These are helpful tools, not substitutes for you!  Some days, reading is that extra thing we can't make time for.  These ideas show us that it's not about making time; it's about using what you've got.

Like many other Mom tricks, what makes it work is a little pre-emptive planning.  Leverage the tools you already have: MP3 player, CD player/boom box, and a cell phone.  Whatever the medium, kids can get their full dose of reading aloud they need every day, and you don't have the added pressure of having to do it yourself.  If you'd like to learn more about audio and e-book resources, please visit our Literacy and Reading Wiki (http://readingtub.pbworks.com/).