Appropriate grades or age groups:
Preschool and Younger

Estimated time to complete activity or implement technique:
2 hours a week

Materials needed (if applicable):
Hot cocoa, some blankets and pillows, maybe some graham cracker treats, and of course; lots of books!

Activity set-up/instructions or description of technique:
Put out the pillows and blankets and get ready for a great time! Invite several of your pre-schooler's friends over at about 7 or 8 o'clock (in their PJ's), and get ready to read! Make each child some hot cocoa (or let them make it) and a special snack (graham crackers?). Let everyone get comfy on the floor with a bunch of pillows and blankets (maybe a favorite animal?) and get out your selection of kids' books to read. Then let the kids all decide which books to read together, and read them to them one at a time, making sure to get their ideas and thoughts about the books as you read them. This usually takes about an hour before they start to get tired/bored, but it gives them a good hour of reading and expressing their opinions. Plus, if you work things out with the other parents, it can give you an hour or two to yourself to go do what you need to get done, because you can all alternate weeks of having the kids over! And instead of paying for a babysitter to park your kiddo in front of the TV, they are getting reading time in with their friends. And remember, peer pressure plays a big role in growing up, so if you encourage them to read with their friends now, they just might continue doing it later!

Other suggestions or comments:
Make sure you make it fun!