This may seem like a strange topic for someone who currently has 0 children who can read to talk about but that's not going to stop me.
Why?
You see although neither of my children can currently read independently they both LOVE books in every shape and size. Being read to, looking at picture books, repeating stories back to me, even making up their own comic strips or flip books. It's the first thing they ask for in the morning and the last thing they want before they go to sleep at night.
So I know at the ages of 5 and 2 that they have an appreciation and love for books that will last a life time, even if they can't currently read them alone.
Here are my best tips for fostering that love at any age!
1. Make them accessible
Many humans are visual creatures, children, especially so. Often a front cover will attract us to a book before we even know the title. If you can, choose front facing shelves so your children can SEE how much fun their books are going to be by showing off their beautifully illustrated covers and not just the spines. Double brownie points if you have these shelves within reach of children. You might end up having to pick up piles of books multiple times a day, but it'll be worth it to watch that love grow and see your children soon choose their favorites.
If shelving isn't an option you can try leaving them in "browsing bins" (box). We have a few different browsing bins set up at home, each with a different style of books inside, for example 1 currently has a selection of Julia Donaldson books whilst another has "That's Not My" books. I periodically change the books in these boxes, or the book at the front if a current box isn't receiving much interest.
2. Let them choose
It might be a picture book or a magazine or a comic or a touchy feely book or a book with a puppet coming out of the middle or anime but whatever it is, make sure it's what THEY want to read. It doesn't matter what you think of it because you're not trying to foster a love in yourself. You already have that fire in your heart that makes it flutter when you open up the pages of your favorite story. You're trying to spark that SAME fire in your child who is their own person with their own tastes.... Even if their tastes are "The Blue Footed Booby" by Rob Biddulph for the 7,536,317th time this week (both of my children are on a real Rob Biddulph kick right now).
3. Go to the library
How do you start with finding out what your children like, without the expense of buying books which might not spark joy? Especially with so many options available?
The Library of course!
When you think of a library what's the first thing that comes to your head? Something like this?
© Donald Insall Associates Ltd 2023
Old? Dull (in an admittedly beautiful kind of way) and uninspiring to little mind? Someone waiting behind a bookcase to SHH you for being too loud?
Well.... modern libraries are more like this....
Bath Central Library | Photo © B&NES Council
Open, airy spaces with front facing shelves that invite young readers (or non-readers) in. They're full of colour and full of life unlike the libraries depicted in the movies.
Our favorite things about the library:
There will always be something new! From a new author to a new genre you'll never be wanting for choice at the library
Learn life skills. We use our library like a pretend shop. You carefully choose what you want, without going over your 20 book limit, take it to the till, scan and collect your receipt. Perfect practice for real life!
Often have colouring or other craft activites available.
Amazing resources for real life topics as well as fictional ones.
Relaxed atmosphere. Lots of public places can be loud and overwhelming, the library rarely is.
Sections flow into one another (at least at ours). The board books flow into picture books, which stream into longer stories, which spill into chapter books, which tumbles into audio books until before you know it you're looking at different genres! No labels on what age range each book section is aimed at allows children the freedom to move at their own pace without feeling pressured to be enjoying "older" books.
Libraries are FREE resources that should be shouted about from the rooftops and sadly they're dying in the UK. Over 800 libraries have been closed in the past 10 years so either we use them or we lose them folks (and I say we should DEFINITLY use them!)
You can find you local library here
4. Don't force reading
If there's one thing that's guaranteed to douse any love of reading it's being forced to read something you don't enjoy. Can anyone honestly say that the thought of reading Biff and Chip thrills you? Or "A cat." "A flat cat". "A cat on a mat" "A bat." (Actual text from a reading curriculum I'm currently doing with our daughter *eye roll*).
These books are dull. REALLY dull. Duller than dishwater! However, they do have there place when it comes to learning HOW to read. Which means that we need to differentiate between reading for purpose and reading for pleasure. We all know that growing up there will be times when we have to read for purpose (text books, tax returns, recipes) so starting early with setting short bursts for the important bits will help children to understand that not all reading is boring!
AND if they're already at a reading level, don't force the boring books! It will only bring about a feeling of disdain when it comes to reading and build up resistance to it. Case and point, my daughter will no longer do work books or sheets. I pushed too hard for her to do a couple of pages a day and she's built up that resistance because they are BORING and now immediately recoils at the idea! Since stopping she now practices her letters by writing pretend cards to her friends. This works for her and she'll even occasionally get the work book out to find the letter she's trying to write.
To summarize: Biff and Chip should stay FAR AWAY from the bed story rituals. These should be books that will sparks dreams and let your kids imagination run wild! If they don't want to read those boring books at all, don't force them to. Let them choose something they enjoy instead.
5. Read to them
Simple but THE most effective thing you can do is to READ TO YOUR KIDS! Even if they don't look like they're listening! Even if they can already read! READ TO THEM!
There are countless ways that reading aloud has a positive impact on children from early development right through to adult life (do you find audio books soothing?). It aids language development (both spoken and written), strengthens imagination, it's relaxing, a great way to spend some bonding time, extends attention span, it's fun (for both of you.. as long as it's not biff and chip), FOSTERS A LOVE OF READING AND CREATES POSITIVE MEMORIES!
Need I go on?
6. Combine reading with play
My final tip is to combine reading with play. These two usually go hand in hand any way but with a little added effort can be stretched into days or even WEEKS of play ideas. Who remembers combining nursery rhymes with actions? Incy wincy spider, Oranges and Lemons, the wheels on the bus? It can be as easy as that! To continue this try finding books with easy actions or verbs (bookish Simon Says!). Poetry books are great for inviting children to join in. "This dinosaur is tall" (get your child to go as tall as they can) "this dinosaur is small" (get them to go as tiny as they can). It's as easy as that and changes reading from a sit still activity into a fun game.
For a ready-to-go bookish play box try Little Hands Learning boxes. This subscription box contains a different book each time with lots of arts and crafts as well as STEM activities to go alongside it!
We made a mood balloon hanging to go alongside this book
Who doesn't love a Lucky Dip? Try setting up a story sack containing the different characters or items from the book. An easy example would be the three little pigs (pigs toy or cut out, sticks, bricks/blocks and straw).
If crafts are more your childs thing then why not try making some puppets to act the story out as you tell it? You can either create your own from scratch, trace around the pictures in the book or print off characters. A little cardboard, sellotape and a lolly stick and voilà! Homemade puppets for hours of fun!
And there we have it! My top 6 tips for fostering a love of reading. The take away message is HAVE FUN!
Do you have a top tip that made your children love to read?
What made you fall in love with it?
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