Starting a Parent & Teen Book Club

Book clubs are all the rage these days. There are cookbook clubs, military history book clubs, and even arts & crafts book clubs. If you like to read and are interested in spending more quality time with your pre-teen or teenager, maybe you should consider starting or joining an existing Parent-Teen book club. It’s easier than you think!

Choosing the Group Members
If you are starting your own book club, you’ll want to have about 4-6 parent-teen pairs, or 8-12 people total. It is important to have enough people participating at any given meeting so no one person feels they have to talk the whole time. A larger number also helps when one or two members can’t make a meeting. There will still be enough of you for a decent discussion.

So, how do you choose the right people? The participants should be interested in reading one book a month, have a preteen or teenager of similar age, share similar social values with you, and be available at the time and day you require.

One thing to consider is your child’s peer group. If you decide to choose kids in your teen’s peer group, then it is important to understand that there may be a more social aspect to the club. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can make a book club less focused on books and more centered on socializing.

On the other hand, choosing teens outside of your child’s peer group can make it harder for your son or daughter to participate. There is the “coolness” factor to grapple with in the minds of all young adults. However, if you know your child is willing to socialize with kids who aren’t necessarily in their schools, church, or community, this can make your decision an easier one.

You can also join an existing book club. Check your local church, bookstores (including the chains), or other local organizations first to see if one already exists. If it does, talk to the organizer as well as some of the participants to see if there is a fit with your schedule, book interests, and both you and your child’s personality.