One-on-One Date

Reading Nook Retreat

Reading Nook Retreat

Build somewhere cosy, bring a pile of books and disappear into your own little world together.

⏱ 30-60 mins ♡ Free/Low cost ⌂ Home
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• Favourite books
• Blankets + cushions
• A sheet or canopy if you want one
• Fairy lights / torch / lamp if you have them
• Favourite drinks
• A couple of snacks
• No need to buy anything. Use what you already have.
START THE DATE ↓
♡
Make it yours. Skip something, change something, use what you have — the plan is here to make things easier.
1
STEP 1

BUILD ANTICIPATION

Earlier in the day, tell them that today you’re building somewhere just for the two of you.

Let them know they’ll need to choose some favourite books, but keep the rest a little mysterious.

💬 WHAT TO SAY
“I’ve got a cosy little date planned for us today. Your job is to choose three books you really want to bring.”
BUILD ANTICIPATION
2
STEP 2

SET THE SCENE

Choose a little corner of the house and turn it into your reading nook.

It could be:

•
Under a table with a sheet draped over it.
•
A corner piled with cushions.
•
A little teepee.
•
A blanket fort.
•
Or simply your bed with every pillow you can find.

Add fairy lights, a lamp or torch if you have one. Then pile in the books.

It doesn’t need to look beautiful. It needs to make you both want to crawl inside.

SET THE SCENE
3
STEP 3

MAKE IT UNIQUE

Give your nook a name.

Maybe:

•
The Book Burrow
•
The Snuggle Spot
•
The Reading Cave
•
The Secret Library
•
Or let your child invent something far more ridiculous.

Then let them choose how you read. You might:

•
Read to them.
•
Take turns.
•
Read different books beside each other.
•
Or make up your own story from the pictures.
💬 WHAT TO SAY
“Every special reading nook needs a special name. What are we calling ours?”
MAKE IT UNIQUE
4
STEP 4

EAT TOGETHER

Bring in drinks and something small to eat.

•
Hot chocolate.
•
Fruit.
•
Biscuits.
•
Popcorn.
•
Whatever you already have.

Don’t turn this into another thing to prepare. The food is simply there to give you an excuse to stay tucked inside a little longer.

💬 WHAT TO SAY
“Important question: what snack does our secret reading nook require?”
EAT TOGETHER
5
STEP 5

MAKE IT A MEMORY

Before you pack it all away, take a photo.

It could be:

•
The nook itself.
•
Your books piled together.
•
Two mugs.
•
Little feet under the blanket.

Then choose one favourite book from the date and write today’s date inside it with a tiny note if it’s one you own: “Read together in our Reading Nook, September 2026 ❤️” and include your photo too as a fun memory every time you read that book again.

💬 WHAT TO SAY
“Which book should be our official Reading Nook book?”
MAKE IT A MEMORY
♡

That's it. ❤️

Change anything. Skip anything. Make it yours.
WANT IT ON PAPER?
Take the plan with you.