My children love to read.
But… that wasn’t always the case. Building a love for reading is like a slow dance. Children need to be introduced to it and woo’d. They need to be shown how books can transport them to far away places. They need to be taught that books are valuable resources for learning new things. They need to be convinced that spending time reading is productive and worth their time.
So I put together a little list of ways I believe you can teach your young children to love reading. Each point is something that we have incorporated into our everyday routine and we now have kids that love to read! I’m definitely not claiming to be an expert on this subject, but I know what has worked for us and wanted to pass along what I have learned with our children 🙂
1. Time of Day
So often you hear of parents reading their kids a bedtime story. While it seems idyllic to climb into bed with your toddler and snuggle up with a few good books, often times parents are left disappointed because their child doesn’t pay attention and it may even end in a meltdown. What was once picturesque in their head has just turned into a nightmare.
Until my son was older, nighttime was NOT a good time to read books with him. He was tired, didn’t want to focus and just needed a good ol’ snuggle. Reading became forced and was not enjoyable for any of us. It wasn’t until he was older that he gained a love for a bedtime story.
So play around with the time of day that you read to your children. I have found that my daughter likes to read first thing in the morning. Before we even leave her bedroom and are bombarded with distractions and toys, we snuggle up in a chair and read several stories together. This has become a sweet way to start the day for both of us. It’s OUR time. Juggling one-on-one time with multiple kids is difficult but so important. This is a way that my daughter and I are able to connect before my attention is divided.
If your child brings you a book in the middle of the day, stop. Sit down wherever you are (last night was the step stool in our kitchen) and read a brief story. You’ll never regret taking a moment to read to your child.
2. Strategic Placement
Place books in every room of your house… or at least every area of your home. Cultivating a love for reading also means that books need to be accessible. If books are within reach, your child will reach for them. Think of all the precious/breakable items you had to move a little higher to keep away from your child. If something is within reach, it will be explored! You will probably end up with countless books on the floor, but just take heart in knowing those hurt less than legos when you step on them! Ha!
For us, I keep a bookshelf stocked in both of the kids’ bedrooms, so any time they are in their rooms playing or they ask for a bedtime story, books are available. On the main floor of our home, I keep a little “reading nook.” Often times, I find the kids sitting in there quietly reading while I’m making dinner or doing laundry. We also keep books in a few random places… like the dining room table and in the car. I cannot tell you how often we read stories during a meal. Full mouths are quiet mouths. Haha! This is the time that we read Bible stories together and also incorporate the books that correspond with our schooling for the day. I also try to rotate which stories are in the car… Every time a child asks to bring a book with them on a car ride, it inevitably ends up staying in the car for a little while. Once we get a collection of books going, I bring the stack in and the process starts all over again!
Many parents that I know keep baskets of books around the house as well. They rotate which books are available for a week or so at a time. Baskets are also a great way to put a conglomeration of themed books together. If you are doing any form of preschool, this is a great way to incorporate the books that you are reading that week for school, whether they correspond with a specific letter you are focusing on or a holiday that is coming up.
3. Read Out Loud
You may not think that your kids are paying attention, but all of a sudden they pipe in with a question about the story and you are left amazed that they even heard you. Allow your child to play with some quiet toys that won’t drown you out, sit in the same room as your child and begin to read. You may not think they are listening… but they are!
When my son was VERY small, I made it a point to lay on a blanket outside with him as he sat and played. I began to read to him The Book of Virtues. Obviously, this book is geared more toward adults and advanced readers (It’s about 5 inches thick and filled with excerpts from various authors and speeches), but reading to your child will increase their vocabulary and teach them grammar at a young age. Reading out loud is invaluable in teaching your child a love for reading.
4. Read it… over… over… and over… again!
If your child wants to read the same book over and over and over again… do it! This is how your child is learning. Repetitions help them learn new words and teaches them grammar. You may get tired of reading the same thing over and over, but if you child is interested in a book, try to take advantage of it!
I know reading the same book every day can be boring, but try making it more interesting for yourself. Pause at certain words to see if your child can fill in the blank. You may be surprised by just how much they have memorized. Point to new objects on each page. Tell them what they are, what color they are, what shape they are. Make it more interesting for yourself by giving your child a chance to participate.
Currently, my daughter likes to read “If You Give a Pig a Pancake.” The simple sentences are easy to understand and flow into the next thing the pig wants to do. It keeps her engaged and wanting to see what the pig does next. When my daughter sees the little girl standing on a chair, she pipes in “Sit down.” HAHA! (Obviously, I may have said that to her a time or two.) When I don’t complete a sentence, she chimes in with the last word. She loves to point out when the little girl takes off her shoes. She isn’t two years old yet, and already her vocabulary is beginning to soar! It’s so fun to watch your kids learn and develop. They are all so different and learn differently, so find what works for your child 🙂
5. Read about their interests
I know I don’t enjoy reading about topics that I have NO interest in, so I try to incorporate books that talk about things my child is interested in! Even before your chid can talk, they are already making their interests very obvious. Do they love playing with dinosaurs? Try a book on dinos! Does your daughter love to play with her stuffed bunny rabbit? There are a plethora of books about rabbits. Does your child love to throw a ball back and forth? I’m sure you can find a book on sports that would catch their attention 🙂
Of course, there comes a time when you would like them to expand their horizons and learn about something different. When my kids get older, I start by saying, “OK, you pick out a story and then mommy can pick out a story.” That way they feel like they have input, they are learning the concept of “give and take,” and you are ultimately getting to teach them about something you are interested in as well!
I hope these suggestions are a help to you as you strive to instill a love for reading in your children!
Do you have any other suggestions that have worked for you? I’d love to hear them!
