Do you ever watch your child zoned out in front of a screen, eyes glazed, hours slipping away, and wish you could turn back time? Like so many parents, you dread how screens steal time from reading, imagination, and real family connection. You want your kids to love books again, and you’re looking for a simple way to break the draining habit of picking up a device. The answer is here: make 2026 the year you reclaim those happier days with the READ Great Books Family Challenge: Reduce Electronics And Discover Great Books. It’s the fresh-start plan that helps your whole family swap scrolling for stories and turn reading into your favorite shared pastime.
Ready to get started?
What the READ Great Books Family Challenge Is All About
The READ Great Books Family Challenge is a simple, powerful way to reduce screen dependence, amp up family reading time, and strengthen bonds within your family. You’ll find more time for conversations that matter, laughter over shared stories, and that quiet calm that comes from a home filled with readers instead of glow-in-the-dark faces.
At its core, the READ Great Books Family Challenge is about flipping the script on the demands that devices play in our lives. It gives your whole family an easy-to-follow roadmap to reduce time spent on screens and increase time spent reading.
The goal is straightforward: make Mondays-Thursdays screen-free. Instead of watching screens, you’ll read more.
You’ll be amazed by the powerful (and nearly immediate) transformations you’ll see in your whole family!
Below, we’ll talk about easy strategies to start the challenge. But for now, let’s talk about why this is so important…
Why Keeping Monday-Thursday Screen-Free Matters
Here’s the bottom line: the benefits of screen-free weeks ripple out far beyond the living room.
Reducing screen time has been linked to improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and sharper attention spans. With smartphones in every pocket, tablets sitting within reach, and apps designed to hook us, it’s easy to let screens dominate. And dominate they do! Studies show that kids spend an average of 7.5 hours per day on screens! Increased screen dependence has been linked to decreased time spent reading – something that’s especially alarming when you consider the enormous benefits of reading.
Kids who read regularly outperform their peers in vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking. Families that read regularly experience closer bonds and improved communication.
Participating in the READ Great Books Family Challenge can be a game-changer! No more isolated evenings where everyone’s in their own digital bubble. Instead, you’ll build traditions around books that foster empathy, imagination, and real connection.
Take it From Them
Parents who’ve tried similar approaches report fewer arguments, more quality time, and a sense of unity that’s hard to come by in our hyper-connected yet disconnected world. Just take a look at what some parents have told us after keeping electronics off Monday-Thursday:
“I have kept my television off from Mon-Thur for over 2 months now. There are times that it feels easier to turn it on sometimes to use as a babysitter for my 7 children. But because I have seen so much of a difference in all of my children academically, I resist the urge to take what seems to be the easy way out. It’s only an illusion. It might keep them occupied and out of my hair for a while but they weren’t doing well in school…” – Abigail, Makaha Elementary School
“My children are more active and take the opportunity to do other activities that they normally would not have done without it. They write letters to relatives, author books/posters for the house, do puzzles, build Lego cities, make leis… the list goes on. It’s amazing to see. I’m not saying turning off the TV (and all other electronics) is easy. We’re still struggling with it, as it is a difficult habit to break, but it has done wonders for our family. It does force me to do what I should be doing – SPENDING TIME ENJOYING MY CHILDREN!” – Anonymous, Stevenson Middle School
“I’ve seen a great change in [my daughter]. When she gets home at night, after taking a bath and eating dinner, she goes into her room and READS. Although she doesn’t know how to read all that well yet (she’s K) she still would rather go in the room and read, rather than watch TV. It really is amazing. Last night she even fell asleep reading an alphabet book.” – Anonymous, Waipahu Elementary School
Make 2026 Your Family’s Year!
By committing to the READ Great Books Family Challenge, you’re not just making another New Year’s Resolution. You’re investing in a happier, healthier home!
Ready to start?
Let’s break down what this challenge entails and how it can work for your family.
Choose Your Approach: Dive In or Ease In
How does the READ Great Books Family Challenge work? You have two paths to choose from, depending on your family’s readiness.
Option 1: Declare Monday-Thursday Screen-Free from the Start
If you’re feeling bold and want to jump in headfirst, then try this: starting January 1, 2026, make Monday through Thursday screen-free days. You might get some resistance from your kids, but if you do, just remember: you’re in charge. Make the rules, and stick to them! (And you’ll also be surprised how quickly the whole family adapts!)
Option 2: Spend 4 Weeks Adding One New Screen-Free Day Each Week
If jumping into the deep end sounds intimidating, opt for the “ease-in” method over the first four weeks of January.
Week one: Make just Monday screen-free.
Week two: Add Tuesday.
Week three: Include Wednesday.
By week four, Thursday joins the lineup, and you’ve built up to the full challenge.
This gradual ramp-up helps everyone adjust without the shock, turning what might feel like a restriction into a habit.
Regardless of whether you start bold or ease in, the READ Great Books Family Challenge means no binge-watching Netflix, no doom-scrolling on social media, no playing video games, and no texting friends for hours on end.
And yes, this rule applies to everyone – parents included! It’s crucial that adults model the behavior. Leading by example builds trust and commitment, and it sets the tone for the whole family.
Understand the Exceptions
Now, about those exceptions – because life isn’t black and white. Homework that requires a computer? Go ahead, but keep it strictly to what’s needed.
Essential communication, like texting a family member or checking work emails briefly? Allowed, but with intention: no sneaking in a quick TikTok video, and no endless, back-and-forth messaging. By focusing on essentials only, you’ll reclaim hours that were previously lost to digital distractions.
Remember, this structure isn’t arbitrary; it’s designed to create sustainable change. Weekends remain flexible for movie nights or gaming, providing balance and something to look forward to. But those midweek evenings? They’re reserved for rediscovering the analog world.
Over time, this rhythm helps reset dopamine dependencies, making non-screen activities more appealing. It’s about shifting from passive consumption to active engagement, and the R.E.A.D. acronym captures that perfectly: reduce the electronics that pull us apart, and discover the great books that bring us together.
What to Do with Your Screen-Free Time
So, what do you do with all that reclaimed time? That’s where the “Discover Great Books” part comes alive. You and your family will spend more time reading and reading aloud. Your imaginations will be awakened through the magic of stories, and your home will rest in an atmosphere of calm and discovery. Try these strategies to bring more new books into your home and build a practice of reading more!
Visit the Library
Make weekly library visits a family ritual. Head to your local library once per week. Turn it into an outing with excitement, perhaps followed by a treat like ice cream. The key is personalization: every family member, from toddlers to teens to adults, should have their own library card and check out materials that spark their interest.
Role Model Reading
Parents, this is your chance to role model reading for fun. Curl up with a novel in plain sight, letting your kids see you lost in a story. Read aloud to your little ones during times other than bedtime. And don’t stop reading aloud just because your kids are older; tweens and teens still benefit from shared narratives. Find classic books that the whole family will love and spend 30 minutes after dinner reading aloud. This strengthens bonds, expands vocabularies, and opens doors to discussions about themes like friendship, adventure, or history.
Diversify Reading Formats
Mix up the reading formats to keep it fresh: traditional books, glossy magazines, actual printed newspapers (remember those?), comics, graphic novels, how-to manuals, or even prayer books if that fits your family’s values. Variety prevents boredom and caters to different tastes; maybe your sports fan grabs a biography of an athlete, while your artist picks a graphic novel.
Make It Fun
To amp up the engagement, incorporate fun elements at home. During dinner, make “book talk” a standing agenda item: share a favorite quote, a surprising plot twist, or what you’re learning. This turns meals into intellectual feasts, fostering communication skills and family closeness. You can even get creative by encouraging family members to hang a laminated sign on each bedroom door saying “I’m Reading ____” and update it with your current book’s title. It’s a visual reminder of everyone’s interests progress and sparks curiosity: “Hey, what’s that book about? Can I borrow it next?”
These activities aren’t just fillers; they’re the heart of the challenge. By replacing screen time with reading-centric pursuits, you’re nurturing imaginations, building empathy through stories, and creating shared experiences that screens can’t replicate. Don’t forget that libraries often offer free events like story hours or book clubs! Join them to expand your circle. Over time, this shift makes reading a beloved habit, not a chore, setting the stage for lifelong reading.
How to Get Started: Easy Steps for Success
Getting started with the READ Great Books Family Challenge is easier than you might think. Follow these straightforward steps to launch successfully and keep momentum going.
Step 1: Hold a Family Meeting
Gather everyone around the table (sans devices) and explain the challenge enthusiastically. Share why it’s important (better focus for school, more fun together, less stress from screens) and demonstrate excitement! Explain that your goal is to keep Monday-Thursday screen-free. Get buy-in by letting kids voice concerns and suggest rewards for milestones, like a family game night after the first screen-free week. Decide if you’ll “dive in” right away or “ease in” over the next four weeks.
Step 2: Set Up a Device Dock
Designate a central spot, like a kitchen drawer or charging station in a common area, where all entertainment devices go during screen-free times. Phones will be on silent, tablets will be tucked away out of sight, out of mind. Consider using app blockers or “do not disturb” modes to limit temptations.
Step 3: Plan Your Library Kickoff
Visit the library as a family and help each family member select 3-5 books. Start small if needed: picture books for little ones, quick reads for busy teens. Remember, ownership is a key part of making reading fun and interesting. If your teen is interested in mechanics, and wants to check out a how-to manual – that’s great! If your 3rd grader can’t get enough of graphic novels – help him or her find more! Reading begets reading! The more your kids read, the more they’ll be likely to expand their horizons to different genres over time.
Step 4: Engage and Celebrate
You’ll be amazed by the ways your family grows over time! Get ready for enjoyable conversations, new curiosities, and wonderful creativity! Celebrate these changes with special family treats, like a trip to the ice cream store, a family game night, or an outing to a local landmark – just for fun!
Get Started and READ Great Books!
Kick off the READ Great Books Family Challenge by downloading Read Aloud America’s free Reading List for 2026. Packed with over 250 recommendations for all ages, from enchanting picture books to gripping young adult novels, this curated list will inspire your library hauls and keep the momentum going.
Ready to make 2026 your family’s best year yet?
