4 Ways to Nurture a Love of Reading

When our kids are little, we have the special opportunity to start raising kids who can fall in love with reading. Now, obviously we can’t force our kids to enjoy something, but we can lay the foundation for a path to finding enjoyment from certain activities.

Here are 4 ways you can nurture a love of reading with your littles, even starting from the day they are born.

1. Read in front of your kids often. If they see you reading for enjoyment or relaxation, you are modeling how reading books can be a fulfilling and enjoyable activity.

2. Have books widely available in your home. I recommend keeping books in all the rooms in your home, like the family room, bathroom, kitchen, bedrooms, etc. Buy a few small baskets that you can keep in each room so books are always accessible.

3. Incorporate reading into your daily routines. Baby woke up in the morning, let’s cuddle together and read a story. You got home from work, let’s sit together and read. Bath time? Grab a story. And of course, bedtime stories are always a great go to. Find a routine that works for you, and stick with it!

4. Foster a warm and positive relationship with books. Starting from when your kids are little, you can help build a warm relationship with reading by making sure that story time includes lots of snuggles, lap time, and laughs. And importantly, know when to close the book and come back to again at another time. If neither of you are enjoying your time together, it is best to put down the book and try again later.

By modeling, providing lots of opportunities for, and fostering warm relationships with books, your child is likely to grow up knowing the joys of reading.