Fostering a love of reading

A love of books can begin long before your child can read. All children love being read to, and you can expose your baby to books from an early age by reading to him and by letting him experience special books designed for babies, such as touch-and-feel, pop-up or bath books.

Children love reading books with you for many reasons and on many levels. They enjoy the closeness of being on your lap or next to you, your attention, the drama of the story, the rhythm of the words and the way in which the pictures and story fire their imagination. Take time to read the story properly and with gusto and imagination – don’t be shy about doing silly voices or singing. If your child sometimes interrupts and asks questions about the story, remember that the goal of the exercise isn’t to get through the book as quickly as possible, but rather to get your child involved in and excited by the process of reading. Similarly, if they lose interest or start to fidget, don’t force it – reading shouldn’t be a chore.

When is the best time to read?

The bedtime story is a time-honored tradition, but don’t get tied to reading only at bedtime. Some children may not be at their most receptive when they are tired, so try reading at other times of day too – for example in the morning when they’re full of beans. Story tapes and CDs in the car are a great diversion for children – even if they can’t read along, they can follow the pictures in their book while listening to the story.

What should we read?

Choose age-appropriate books with imaginative pictures. Interactive books with buttons that make sounds to accompany the story, or pop-up books, can also help engage young children, and books that rhyme are always popular for their rhythm, which makes them easy for children to remember. Books where your child needs to contribute something to the story – such as counting, or shouting “Boo!” or repeating a refrain – are always popular.

Children love listening to the same books again and again, and will often request the same story at every reading session – so much so that you’ll feel they must have memorized it fully! They likely have – this is all part and parcel of developing an enthusiasm for reading. If you think your child is familiar with a certain book, try to leave gaps in your sentences so they can fill in the missing word. This will help them to feel part of the story and will also help to improve their memory.

When will my child read by himself?

Most children don’t start to read until they start at kindergarten.While they may be interested in learning letters – how to write their name, for example – don’t push them to start learning the alphabet too early or you’re likely to put them off. Point out easy and interesting words around you to show that the written word is a very important part of our daily lives and that being able to read opens a lot of doors.

Most children love fridge magnets, and brightly colored magnetic letters on the fridge can help get your child used to the letter shapes, and they will love rearranging them – you can start showing your child a few simple words this way. Putting wooden letters with their name on the bedroom door can further encourage them to recognize and eventually read the letters that make up their name. But remember that the mechanics of reading are far less accessible to your child at this stage than the wonderful stories in his books!

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.