By Jessica Pag-iwayan

For years, studies have proven the importance of reading, especially for the kids. Cultivating the love for reading at a very young age widens their vocabulary and helps strengthen memory retention.

This is no wonder that parents are trying their best to establish good reading habits with the whole family. Members gather together, and parents will read out loud to their children. The Agoncillo family is one of those who believe and practice this type of bonding activity. Headed by celebrity couple Ryan and Judy Ann Santos Agoncillo, the couple shared with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle their family bedtime story routine.

Create a habit

“Part of our routine is to read bedtime stories. After playtime, after dinner, they wash up and then, it’s bedtime stories,” Ryan tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle at the launch of McDonald’s Happy Meals Readers program where their family is introduced as brand ambassadors.

He also said this activity helped their three kids fall in love with reading that even during family breakfast, they will get their books and start reading.

st together, the kids will pull out a book while having breakfast,” he says. “They will read individually. That’s also the time they ask us about big words when they’ve encountered it or when they read something new.”

Meanwhile, Judy Ann says that their kids namely Yohan, Lucho, and Luna are now exploring different genres of their own. Her eldest daughter Yohan is now into love stories, Lucho loves adventure and marine biology books, while her youngest enjoys fairy tales with a lot of pictures.

Family bonding

The couple also shared that, one night, they decided to introduce a new experience to their routine by reading using a flashlight. “That was a time Luna discovered shadow puppets as well. It was a lot of interaction with the kids,” Ryan says.

When asked how they established this routine despite both having busy schedules, Ryan and Judy Ann say that they have committed themselves to it. “Bedtime story schedule should be practiced religiously, so your kids will look forward to it,” Judy Ann says. “At the same time, this is when you’re beside your children, you get to hug them, and you get play tickle monster after.”

She also says that this activity serves as an avenue for their children to open up to them. “There are stories in which they could relate themselves to a character, and then they’ll tell you something like what happened to them at school,” she says. “It’s also one way of gaining their trust that you’re there to listen and to spend time with them, with no judgement.”

The 41-year-old celebrity mom looks forward to this family bonding every day. “May times na uuwi ako tulog na sila, hindi ako umabot sa bedtime story. Ako na yung nalulungkot kasi wala ako doon sa moment na yun (There are times I’d go home late and they’d be asleep. I would feel sad that I wasn’t in that moment),” she says. “Sometimes, our family is not able to read stories together because both of us are at work. Ryan and I really look forward to reading time with them.”

According to journal Pediatrics, reading out loud to children strengthens the parents’ relationship with their kids, boosts their competence, and even reduces parental stress or depression. “[During family reading] you’re just talking and having a decent conversation. I think at one point, when you learn how to build that relationship with your kids, they look forward to it,” Judy Ann continues.

Gift of giving

For every purchase of a Happy Meal, the Happy Meal Readers program gives customers the choice of choosing between a toy and a book. All 12 books talk about the adventures of Treetop Twins, and these books are written by world-renowned author of How to Train Your Dragon, Criselda Cowell.

“At a young age, you’re already introducing them to sharing their blessings, how to help people,” Judy Ann says. “It doesn’t need to be thousands or millions [of pesos], one peso, 50 centavoes goes a long, long way. It’s really important that we teach our children to help other people.”

For every Happy Meal, a portion will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc. This foundation helps provide education and shelter to Filipino children.