While recently visiting with a teacher/mom/ colleague as we browsed at books at her favorite bookstore in her hometown, I thought about the qualities it takes to the maintaining of a reader-friendly home. My friend was excited to share the children’s section of the local bookstore with me as we both had team-taught first graders together. Now, with her baby of four months, we explored the variety of board books with colorful illustrations and simple texts. The rhyme and natural rhythms we discovered in the books were music to our ears!
I wondered about how parents foster love for reading. Do they prioritize reading by reading aloud each day from the time the babies were born? Is reading associated with a fun, belonging, safe time for children? Do parents sing books too?
Is your home filled with a variety of reading materials? Keeping a variety of reading materials around such as magazines, postcards, photo albums or scrapbooks, newspapers, and for young children—magnetized alphabet letters and beginning reading and alphabet games are a good start!
Keeping reading materials nearby for easy exploration such as books near the changing table and high chair for baby can be helpful. Storing books near comfortable sitting spaces and consider creating a special reading place as the children grow — maybe give them their own reading nook shows them how you prioritize establishing good reading habits over other entertainment. Put a basket full of books and magazines next to favorite places to sit.
In thinking about establishing a reading environment, consider limiting your children’s screen time (including tv, computer, smartphones, tablets and video games) to make sure they have time for reading. When children reach elementary school they benefit by the consistency of your example as you create learning spaces for them.
Keep reading activities family-centered. Reading shouldn’t be exclusively in isolation.
Read together too. Read a book aloud or ask your child to read to you . Make a habit of sitting together while you each read your own books too.
Years ago an elementary school librarian shared her story of a child who didn’t learn to read in first grade, second grade, and when in third grade explained to his mother that if he mastered how to read, he wouldn’t be a part of the family unit as he once had been. He knew that first and second grade is the appropriate time frame to “learn to read” but in third grade you “read to learn” and he was afraid to be left of his own worried that this learning was in isolation of others. He wanted assurance that the family would continue reading together, learning together, laughing together, sharing together, even after they knew he was capable of reading alone.
Sharing time together as you learn alongside one another will establish life-long habits fostering community, friendship, security, and fun. Just a few thoughts to the establishment of good reading habits in your home!