Reading is a lifelong skill, as well as a valuable way for children to learn, so reading with your children and getting them interested in books from an early age offers them a great start in life. Here are some practical ideas for encouraging a reading habit.

Research has found that children who are used to books and reading before they start school are able to cope with the demands of literacy teaching much better than children who’ve not been brought up to read books. Reading is also an activity that brings parents and children together – it’s interactive, enjoyable, promotes bonding and is something both parents can be actively involved in.

Children learn by example, so the more you can be seen to be reading (and enjoying it!), the more likely your children are to pick up books and read.

Babies and Toddlers

It’s never too soon to get your child interested in books! Babies may be too young to read, but they’re certainly capable of looking at pictures and touching books. They love seeing bright colours, interesting shapes, books that have different textures to touch or sounds to listen to.

There’s a great variety of books for babies on the market, with many having additional touch-and-feel or listen-to elements. Books for babies are wonderfully creative and colourful and come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s plenty of choice out there for you and lots of interesting ideas to introduce to your baby. Clip mini books onto the side of the pram, highchair or pushchair and make plenty of time to read to your baby.

Your baby will enjoy listening to your voice and you’ll soon be able to identify their favourite stories, via listening to them babble, seeing them smile or other reactions. Once you’ve hit on what they like, read them again and again. It may seem repetitive to you, but repeating phrases and tales will help the early stages of learning and slowly build up children’s knowledge of language. Books for babies and toddler inevitably use simple words that will be understand more easily than books aimed at older children.

You can make it even more interesting for both you and your child by using funny voices, different tones or getting into character. Remember to show your baby and toddler the pictures too, rather than simply reading the story to them. The pictures can be as stimulating to their imagination as much as the words. The books we have selected for the book suggestion are a mixture of classic and modern books, which are all beautifully illustated or constructed and widely available.

Book Suggestions

The Very Hungry Caterpillar [Board Book] - Eric Carle
Dear Zoo - Rod Cambell
Kipper Story Collection: "Kipper", "Kipper’s Birthday", "Kipper’s Toybox", "Kipper’s Snowy Day" - Mick Inkpen
Each Peach Pear Plum (Viking Kestrel Picture Books) - Janet Ahlberg

Under Five-Year-Olds

Children aged three to five years old are developing at quite a pace and books can be a fun way of encouraging their learning even more. They’ll enjoy being involved, choosing which book to read, turning the pages, talking about the pictures, guessing what might happen next and following the words with their fingers.

As their language skills progress, they’ll be able to join in more with the actual reading, learning new words and developing their overall understanding. It’s still great to make it as active and fun as possible, by each taking characters, using funny voices, acting out scenes or using toys to act out parts of stories.

Hopefully, by getting your child interested in books from a young age, they’ll be more likely to develop a healthy attitude to reading and remain a keen reader throughout their life.

Book Suggestions

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen
Peace at Last
- Jill Murphy
Moon Rabbit
- by Natalie Russell
Lost and Found
- Oliver Jeffers
A Squash and a Squeeze
- Julia Donaldson

Posted by claire on May 14, 2009 | Email This Post