10 ways to foster a love for reading in kids!

Books are a big deal in the McNeil household. Everything from Lectures to my Students, to Sense and Sensibility, to Fancy Nancy... you name it, we will try to read it.  Our lives get hectic and busy like everyone, but we always try to keep reading(anything and everything) as a top priority. It's really important to us that our children not only love to read, but that they become confident and competent readers as they grow older. I know some days (let's be real... a lot of days) it's easier to turn to other forms of entertainment when we're buried under laundry or trying to get dinner on the table, but with a little effort and consistency, reading books as a pass-time can become a very enjoyable experience for you and your kids! After a while, you may even catch your one year old  quietly sitting and looking through a book without any prompting:). Here are 10 ways to help your kids learn to love books:

Sweet baby Vivi

1. Have a variety-  fiction, non fiction, adventurous, dramatic, silly, sentimental....the possibilities are endless! My kids are easily bored with monotony so I try to mix it up! Soon I will post a reading list for toddlers/preschoolers.

2. Make them easily accessible- Put em' where they can find em'! Having a variety of books to choose from will be useless if they aren't within arms reach.  I like to keep a basket of books in each of the rooms of our home so that my kids can be lured in to the magical world of reading while they play.

Baskets keep books low to the ground but organized!

3. Be a fun and EXPRESSIVE narrator- This is key! I try to use vocal inflections and intonations to bring alive the written word. I've also noticed that reading their books on my own allows me to anticipate the exclamation marks and better narrate the cast of characters while reading to them.  Whoever enjoyed listening to a monotone narrator lacking in passion and enthusiasm?

"...I could hardly keep my seat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost driven me wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadful indifference."
-Sense and Sensibility

My sentiments exactly, Marianne.

4. Have "scheduled" and spontaneous reading time-  Every morning during/after breakfast and our daily devotional (nothing fancy since my kids are little... just the Proverb of the day and a short prayer time), we try to read a few books of choice around the table (unless the wheels are coming off for little lady #2 in which case we move it elsewhere).  It's a nice way to make it through breakfast in one piece as their mom (hehe) AND a way to encourage them to practice sitting at the table as a family for longer periods of time.  I also try to have structured reading around lunchtime.  The rest of the day we read whenever the girls bring me a book or if they choose to plop down and flip through pictures.

My big girl Noelle browsing through one of her favorites, the Mercy Watson series.

5. Let your kids see you reading- Of course I can't get completely lost in a book while chasing little people, but they see stacks of books on our nightstands, countertops etc.  Sometimes I will even pick up a book and join them when they are looking through books just so they see I value spending leisure time in that fashion.

6. Regularly discuss current reading material-  For example, I am currently reading Anne of Green Gables (again) to my girls.  At random times during the day I will ask little lady #1 about the storyline, or mention the book if we encounter something/someone in our day that reminds us of the story. I also use portions of the book to reinforce character training. This not only aids in reading comprehension, but I feel will help lay a foundation for critical literary analysis in the future.

7.  START EARLY!- I can't stress this enough! Don't wait to see if your child will just randomly start to show interest in books. Chances are it will never happen.  From the moment that little baby starts coming out of the newborn coma, start reading! Research has shown time and time again just how beneficial reading to children early can be!When both of my girls were small babies, I started with touch and feel books that had very little wording but lots of color and texture. They loved them!

8.  Be patient- If you are like me, you may be chomping at the bit to read some of your favorite classic books to your kids.  Although they are wonderful, most of them are lacking in illustrations which initially hold the attention and encourage the imagination of our kids.  You don't want them to lose interest because their little minds can't keep up with chapter books. So I suggest easing into them  and even using condensed versions like the one pictured below to get them started.  They can delve into all the exciting extra details when they're older!

9.  Visit libraries/book stores- Nothing can and will encourage a child to read like seeing other children their age enjoying reading for fun!  The cool thing about libraries and bookstores like Barnes and Noble is you can also participate in scheduled and structured story times with other families!

10.  Be flexible- There are days when 1 or both of my girls are just NOT in the mood to read(or me for that matter) AT ALL. There's also days when I read one sentence from the first page only for them to smack it out of my hand and go for another book.   That same scenario is usually repeated with the next book! That's OK. The worst thing we could do is force reading.  We will occasionally go a whole day (or even a couple) without reading and others they will want to read constantly!  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow!


Any other tried and true ways to encourage/foster a love for reading? Feel free to comment below!

Happy reading,

Bryt xo