If you've been around any amount of time you know I love to read. One of the things I want to teach my daughter is a love and appreciation for books. Books have gotten me through some of the worst times in my life, yes I confess I use books to ignore reality when reality is too much to take. Books have saved me from heartbreak and sometimes even from myself.
How do you raise a reader though? Not everyone is a reader or wants to be although I cannot fathom the why of that. I've done my best since before Little K was born to encourage her reading, depending on her age my encouragement has taken on different forms.
1. Before Little K was even born she owned books. Not just board books for babies but other books I considered some of my childhood favorite's too. When she came home from the hospital she was already the proud owner of a shelf full of books.
2. I read to Little K, if she asks we read. Very rarely do I say no to a request for a story, last night I put down my book during the best part 10 pages from the end because Little K wanted to read.
3. I pick out age appropriate books about subjects she's interested in. I use to let Little K pick out her own books when we went to the library until I figured out we were coming home with 5 books she didn't even care to read more than once if we even read them at all. That doesn't encourage reading, no one wants to read a book they're not interested in. So now before each library visit I spend several hours online exploring the realm of kids book lists and picking out books that suit her interests and imagination.
4. We discuss the stories we read. Talking about books you love with others who have read the same books is always a wonderful experience. We talk about her favorite parts and which characters were her favorite and why.
5. I check her favorite books out from the library over and over again. Little K has books she absolutely loves including The Day the Crayons Quit, Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus, and Good Thing You're Not an Octopus, I do my best to make sure we have one of these books in our house at least once during the month. I've read these books to her so many times she now chooses to read them to me or sometimes even to herself.
6. I let her see me reading for my own enjoyment. Kids learn by example and recently I've noticed her start to follow my example. Twice in the last few weeks while I've been comfortably enjoying a book in my reading chair I've watched her pick out books of her own and begin reading to herself on the other side of the room. Nothing makes me more proud!
What tips do you have for raising a reader?
I love how you put your own books down to read to her when she asks. I think that is so sweet. Amazing mommy! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that you are raising a book lover!!! If I ever need a recommendation for a kids book I am going to be looking at you and all your research because that is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI think it is so true leading by example. Just seeing you enjoy it can make her want to mimic it too. Finding the right books that interest her is the most important. Trudging through a horrible book or one she just doesn't like won't encourage her to continue reading.
ReplyDeletei definitely think the last one is super important. i love to read, of course, but my mum isn't a fan so i'm glad i learned on my own haha. i really hope my kids like to read!
ReplyDeleteThat's so awesome! And I think discussing books does make it a lot more fun and is a great way to encourage a child to get into it. I like your point about picking things out for her. Intuitively I would have thought picking her own stuff would be more fun, but I can absolutely see a kid not being very good at picking things they'll actually like later.
ReplyDeleteall of these! i've been collecting books for kayla since she was in my belly and have been reading to her from day one. now she reads on her own but at night, it's our special time so i read to her while we cuddle. i take her to the library with me and we talk about the books she likes/series she wants to read etc.
ReplyDeleteSo great that K loves to read like you do! Definitely reading to them when they are young is key and having lots of books around to read. I love when our O picks up a book to "read" because the toddler-speak plus book is adorable. Good idea to get books that kids are interested in. I should pick up more books about cars for J :). I always remind myself that even if my kid doesn't like to read at some point in his/her childhood, it's not the end of the world because I loved to read in elementary school, didn't read for a while, and started back up in early adulthood.
ReplyDeleteLove this! :) I am "guilty" of having a stash of books already for my future children. Board books, chapter books, classic favorites- I've got them and can't wait to raise a reader of my own one day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. For me, I'm a stepmom to a 7 year old boy. I'm still getting my footing in my role as a STEP-parent. But, one of the lovely things that we bond over is reading. He is advanced for his age-group, but he is quite specific about what he enjoys reading. So, I buy him books about superheroes and villians because he loves all things superheroes and villians. We went to a secondhand bookstore, and he picked out some comic books that were 50cents a piece. I think it's great to cultivate this love of reading at a young age.
ReplyDeleteYou posted this awhile but, but I love it! It is so important to me that my children enjoy reading. Actually, I jokingly told Sam yesterday that if I ever hear one of our children say they don't like to read then they're grounded. He agreed 😂 lol. I'm a long way off from having a little one, but I definitely plan to read to my kids every night starting when they're itty bitty babies!
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