Love of Books
Instilling a love of books in children from an early age can have a profound impact on their future literacy, creativity, and lifelong learning skills. Studies show that children exposed to books, stories, and reading from infancy tend to pick up language and early literacy skills faster, have larger vocabularies, and develop stronger comprehension abilities. Beyond the academic benefits, reading together is also an enjoyable way for parents to nurture closer emotional bonds with children.
The habits that develop during these early years form the blueprint for children’s relationship with books going forward. Luckily, encouraging reading in young children does not require expensive toys or gadgets. Here are some simple and effective tips for inspiring a passion for books in the preschool set.
Read Aloud from an Early Age
Reading aloud to children is one of the best ways to get them interested in books from a very young age. Even if the child is too young to fully understand the story, reading aloud gets them used to the cadence of language in books. It also builds key early literacy skills. Try to read aloud for at least 20-30 minutes every day, making it a special one-on-one bonding time between parent and child, which is important if you are fostering children with an agency like Foster Care Associates Scotland.
Make Books Easily Accessible
Make sure there are age-appropriate books within reach of your child from babyhood onwards. Having books readily available, perhaps in a special book basket or on low shelves, means your child can pick them up and “read” them independently. Seeing parents and older siblings reading books frequently also role models good reading behaviour.
Regular Library Visits
A weekly or biweekly trip to the local library teaches children that libraries are exciting places full of endless books to explore. Let your child choose their own books with gentle guidance – books they select themselves will engage them more. Librarians can also recommend titles your child might enjoy. Sit in the children’s section and read together sometimes too. Bringing a rotating stock of library books home keeps early reading fresh and interesting.
Make Reading Fun
Aim to associate books with enjoyment by making reading time warm and playful. Read with drama and humour. Invent voices for characters. Use props tied to the book’s themes. Read books related to your child’s current interests – trains, animals, princess stories etc. Follow your child’s lead; put aside a book they lose interest in and try something new. Reading should never feel like a chore.
Encourage Questions
Engage your child by asking questions as you read together – what do they think will happen next? How is the character feeling? What would they have done? Simple techniques like these teach young children reading comprehension and make them active participants in the storytelling process.
Lead by Example
Children are great mimics. Seeing parents, siblings and other adults reading their own books, newspapers and magazines shows young children that reading is a valuable use of time. Not just for children, but for all members of the household. Making reading role models visible promotes reading culture.
There are no silver bullets, but employing these types of simple reading-focused activities from babyhood through the preschool years gives children a great early foundation for literacy. Habits and passions for reading now can pay dividends for a lifetime.