Instilling a love of books in children is one of the greatest gifts we can give as parents and caregivers. Reading together helps with bonding, expands imagination and vocabulary, and sets children up for academic and lifelong success. Keep reading for tips on how to raise readers from a young age.
Bonding Over Books
Whether you’re a biological parent or fostering with a foster agency, the parent-child bond is crucial for development. Reading together strengthens this attachment in a pleasurable, low-pressure way. Babies adore being held close and hearing soothing voices. As children get older, make reading interactive – let them turn pages, point at pictures, and chime in on familiar phrases. This makes reading feel like quality time, not a chore. Adapt stories for different ages and attention spans. Even just 5 minutes of lap reading shows your child that you value books.
Make Reading a Daily Habit
Routines are reassuring for children. When you read at predictable times each day, children come to crave and expect this ritual. Aim for at least 20 minutes of reading in the morning, before naps and bedtime. Keep engaging books everywhere—by the sofa, in the playroom, in the car. Let children observe you reading magazines, newspapers, or e-books to model that reading is fun and important. Regularly reading aloud, even starting in infancy, familiarises children with cadence, language patterns, and the mechanics of books.
Surround Children with Books
Access to plentiful, diverse reading materials makes reading increasingly attractive. A well-stocked bookshelf demonstrates that books deserve a central place in family life. Rotate titles to keep the selection fresh. Include board books, picture books, poetry, chapter books, nonfiction, graphic novels – anything that piques interest. Visit the library often so children can pick out their own stack. Gift books for birthdays and holidays. Leave books in unexpected places for surprise discoveries.
Make it Playful and Interactive
Children learn through play. Inject silliness, voices, and physicality into story time to engage their senses. Assign family members different character roles or insert your child’s name. Use puppets, props, or costumes to act out tales. Follow along with your finger as you read. Embellish with sound effects. Pose questions and let your child fill in rhymes or repetitions. Play guessing games about plots and characters. Children absorb and retain much more when they are active participants instead of passive listeners.
Stay Attuned to Interests
Children devour stories they find relatable and fascinating. Pay attention to your child’s preferences – diggers, ballet dancers, dinosaurs, pets, vehicles, the solar system. Seek out books that speak to their curiosity and expanding knowledge base. Support current interests while exposing them to new ideas and perspectives, too. Let your child pick books at the library or bookshop. Sharing an enthusiasm for a topic you bond over reading about deepens your connection.
Raising enthusiastic readers takes commitment but pays off exponentially in enhancing learning and family bonds. Helping a child fall in love with reading is a gift that will serve them throughout school and life.
