Scholastic’s D.E.A.R. Kit Transformed Our Reading Routine (+ How You Can Win One!)

/ Parenting in Malaysia / By /

Like most parents, I dream of raising a child who loves to read.

(If she grows up to be the kind of person who reaches for a book before a screen – ngl, this ecstatic mama might cry).

The thing about reading is that it goes far beyond literacy.

It builds connection. It supports their mental health. It helps them to understand themselves – and the world – better.

And that’s why reading is a big part of our daily rhythm ❤️

We love our breakfast reads on the sunny balcony and our weekly trips to the library – and a little book-and-babycino treat here and there to add a little spark to our routine. 

And the part of the day I look forward to the most: our bedtime story read-alouds (cuddles and giggles included 😆).

But lately, as I’ve been spending more time on my phone creating content for Mama’s Guide, I’ve noticed I’ve spent way less time reading for myself.

And my daughter notices. Big yikes on my part – after all, kids don’t copy what we say. They copy what we do.

When Scholastic Asia reached out about their Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) campaign, it felt like the perfect nudge to reflect on my reading habits while making reading extra fun for my little one.

The Scholastic D.E.A.R. Campaign idea is simple: read 20 minutes a day, 20 books a year ✨

It’s a realistic goal for most families – and the impact it can have on a child’s love for reading is huge 🤯

To celebrate the campaign, we were also sent the Scholastic D.E.A.R. Kit which came with a mini library of curated books, a Clifford (yes, the big red doggo!) plushie, bingo sheets, and a reading tracker – handy little things to make reading feel like play ⬇️

In this article, I’ll share my thoughts on the Scholastic D.E.A.R. Kit, how it’s changed our reading routine, and how your family can be one of Malaysia’s Top 3 Scholastic D.E.A.R. Ambassadors – and win a year’s worth of books!

Disclosures:

This post was written in collaboration with Scholastic Asia.

Mama’s Guide to Malaysia is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

The Clever Way The D.E.A.R. Kit Gamifies Reading for Kids

The D.E.A.R. Kit has given our book habits a fun and playful feel – the kind that makes reading feel like play and quality time rather than “something that’s just gotta be done.”

We started by setting up a book nook – nothing fancy, just a cozy corner with the mini library and her favorite toys.

Sometimes, we use her Lego people to act out scenes from the stories we read. I love how such a simple setup is adding so much more fun to our storytime sessions.

The bingo sheet from the kit has become our new library sidekick.

We treat it like a treasure hunt, finding books that are a fun fit for the prompts. I also kinda like that it gives us a bit of direction when we’re browsing the shelves.

And then there’s the book journal – hands down my favourite part!

Each time we finish a story, my daughter gets to “review” it by giving it a rating (everything’s a 5 so far 😂), and writing down a few words about what she loved most.

It’s been such a natural way to encourage her to start writing simple sentences independently, and I love that!

The Surprising Way It Changed My Own Reading Routine

One unexpected outcome of the D.E.A.R. Kit? It made me slow down and rediscover the simple joy of reading for myself.

I find myself consciously trying to “drop everything and read” during quieter parts of the day.

The biggest breakthrough has been changing the story in my head: I do have time to read.

I’m learning to delegate a little better, and I’ve come to appreciate these lovely, unhurried moments where I can just sit, breathe, and relax with a good book ❤️.

Simple (+ Doable!) Ways To Get The Family Reading More

If you’re looking for ways to sprinkle some bookish magic in your daily routine and encourage your little ones to enjoy reading, here are some tried-and-tested ideas I love using with my family:

1. Leave Books Around The House

We keep small stacks of books in different corners – in our foyer, by the couch, and some on our bedside stand.

It sparks curiosity, and kids tend to wander over, pick one up, and start flipping through.

When I’m feeling extra creative, I’d curate the stacks based on the topics we’re exploring that week.

2. Always Have A Book (Or Two!) In The Bag

It’s the easiest way to stay screen-free when we’re out and about.

I always slip a couple of light reads into my tote or her backpack for restaurant waits or long errands.

 3. Curate A Mix Of Reading Levels For A Richer Experience

This is a gem of a tip I picked up from the book The Well-Trained Mind – and it’s made such a difference in how we approach reading at home.

Try offering your child a mix of books across three levels:

  • Below-level: Books that are easy to read and understand build their confidence and allow them to experience the absolute joy of reading. 
  • At-level: Books that gently stretch their skills and help them grow as independent readers.
  • Above-level: More challenging texts that expose them to new vocabulary, grammar, and writing styles. We do read-alouds of classic children’s books for these.

👉 Scroll through to the Reading Roadmap section – you can browse Scholastic’s book recommendations for different levels

4. Celebrate Completing Each Book With A Journaling Activity

Finishing a book always feels like an achievement, and little ones can celebrate this win by using this journal printable to rate the book, decorate it with drawings and stickers, and maybe pick out one or two things from the book that stood out to them.

It drives excitement to finish even more books and at the same time, it builds their writing skills too.

 5. Turn Reading Into An Adventure

Once in a while, we make a day out of it!

We recently enjoyed a bookish day out in KL – starting with a picnic at Kuala Lumpur Reads, picking up new titles at the KL Children’s Library, journaling in a little pocket park behind indie bookstore Riwayat, and wrapping up the day at the coziest MPH in KL.

Sometimes a little change of scenery makes it all the more fun 🥰.

 6. Talk About Your Favorite Books

Some of our best bookish moments happen outside of storytime – just through casual chats about the stories we’ve read.

You can connect everyday moments to something from a recent book.

For example, one day at the park I said, “Woohoo! I’m running on the grass just like Mary in The Secret Garden!” That tiny comment lit up my daughter’s eyes and sparked a full-on chat about how Mary felt happier when she spent a lot of time in nature.

Another thing we love is book quizzes.

On car rides, we pick a book and take turns asking questions. I like that she offers to ask questions as well because I can gauge her comprehension of the book we’re discussing (especially great for chapter books!).

I’m borrowing some questions my daughter’s asked and including them here to give some idea on how the book quiz could look like: 

“In The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, who wanted courage?”

“How many kids were in bed when Peter Pan came through the window?”

“The wild robot Roz takes care of a gosling named Longneck. True or false?”

 7. Model The Habit

Now that I’m actively trying to read more for myself as well, sometimes I just sit next to her and read my own book.

There’s something powerful about kids seeing you enjoy reading too – I feel like it normalizes it as a natural (and necessary) part of life.

And on another equally important note, it signals that mamas deserve rest and downtime throughout the day too. 

8. Support Their Reading Journey With Phonics

If your little one is struggling with early readers, it might help to focus on strengthening their phonics foundation – understanding the sounds that letters make.

There are many reading methods out there, but phonics has been a game-changer for us. Once kids realize how sounds connect to letters, reading starts to click – and that confidence fuels their love for books.

We started with Progressive Phonics, a free resource with printable books and activity sheets that are simple to follow and genuinely fun to use.

If you’d like to look into a phonics-based program in Malaysia, here are some educators you can get in touch with: 

  • Jigsaw Phonics With Alice – online phonics classes kids, in-person writing workshops for kids, and in-person phonics workshops for parents (Bangsar)
  • Lolli Learn – online and in-person phonics classes for kids (Ampang)
  • The Playmakers – in-person phonics play sessions for kids 4 – 6 years old (Kota Damansara)
  • The Talking Oaks – phonics workshops and play-based tools for parents

Join The 20-20 Challenge 🏆

If you’ve been looking to make reading a bigger part of your family’s rhythm, Scholastic’s D.E.A.R. 20–20 Challenge is a great place to start.

The idea is simple: just 20 minutes of reading a day, complete 20 books a year.

It’s realistic, fun, and a great way to help kids see reading as play (and not extra homework).

Here are some fun Scholastic printables you can add to your book routine:

The Bingo sheets can be a fun way to hunt for specific themes or characters. With every book your kids finish, they can log their progress in the journaling sheet.

And here’s extra reason to do that: When you submit the journal entries, your kids can be in the running to be one of Malaysia’s Top 3 Scholastic R.E.A.D. Ambassadors! 

The winning Ambassadors will win a year’s worth of books and a certificate to commemorate their achievement! 🥳

How To Join The 20-20 Challenge

Step 1: Complete the journaling sheet

Step 2: Upload and submit the completed sheet and contact details on the Scholastic Asia D.E.A.R. website

Once your child’s in the running, keep submitting completed journal entries for a chance and snag that coveted Ambassador spot.

T&C:

  • Submission deadline: 31st August 2026
  • Only valid journaling sheets will be counted toward your score (each form must be complete and not a duplicate submission for the same book)

This challenge is open to all avid young readers, whether your child is just learning to read or is already devouring chapter books.

📖 Ready to drop everything and read?

Start Your Family’s 20-20 Challenge

Check out More Bookish Fun For Kids In Kl ✨

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