<p>Try These Indoor Literacy Activities This Winter</p><p>With bone-chilling winter weather, kids spend more time indoors—and likely use some of that time to play computer games and watch TV. That’s fine—to a point.</p><p>But, the average child spends four hours per day—28 per week!—on TV, DVDs and computer games, says Jim Trelease, author of “The Read-Aloud Handbook." Research shows that up to 10 such hours a week have no impact on grades, but above that, they begin to decline.</p><p>With that in mind, here are some ideas for using more indoor time to improve literacy:</p><p> Celebrate summer – Have an indoor picnic … indulge in ice cream or ice pops … read summer-themed books … and even wear swimsuits. It may be the middle of winter outside, but it can be the middle of summer inside.</p><p> Hold a read-a-thon – Ask your children to select a book or two. Find a comfortable spot for everyone to gather. Serve an all-round favorite snack. Read aloud together for as long as you like, with older kids taking their turns to read, too.</p><p> Write letters – Teach the lost art of letter writing. Let the kids design their own stationery. Ask them to write a letter or two to a grandparent or friend. Or, write letters to each other, “mailing” them to each other’s rooms.</p><p> Write a story together – Do this orally, or write it down as well to preserve it. Have someone start by offering the first sentence of the story. Go around and around, with each person adding a sentence. The group creativity may surprise you.</p><p> Play reporter – Take 5-10 minutes to interview each other, taking notes and reporting back to the group. Aim for a scoop—try to uncover something not known by everyone.</p><p>For even more ideas on wintertime literacy, see “Top 10 Family Reading and Writing Ideas for the Winter Holidays” from Reading Rockets.</p><p>Use some creativity this winter because “there’s snow better time to read!”</p><p>“Literacy is for life” is a public awareness campaign of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, aiming to improve literacy for Pennsylvania children from infancy through grade 12.</p>