Creating a reading-friendly environment is essential for fostering a love of reading in young children. By setting up the right atmosphere, you can make reading an enjoyable and integral part of your child’s daily life. Here are some practical tips to help you create an inviting and stimulating reading space:
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Design a Dedicated Reading Space
Creating a specific area dedicated to reading can significantly encourage your child to pick up a book. This space doesn’t have to be large; a cozy corner with comfortable seating, good lighting, and a few pillows or bean bags can do wonders. Ensure this space is quiet and free from distractions like TV and loud toys.
Keep a Variety of Reading Materials
Diversity in reading materials can keep children engaged. Stock your reading space with a mix of books that cater to different interests and reading levels. Include picture books, storybooks, magazines, and even comics. This doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy new books all the time! Use your local library (just remember to return your book loans on time so you don’t get late fees like we always do!) You might even have a Little Free Library near you that you didn’t know about, but be prepared to make a trade. Their motto is “Take a book. Share a book.” Audiobooks and e-books can also be great additions for times when your child might prefer listening to stories.
Make Books Accessible
Place books within easy reach of your child. Low shelves or baskets filled with books can make it easier for kids to grab a book whenever they feel like reading. Organizing books with their covers facing out can make them more visually appealing and encourage children to explore new titles. In our home we have books tucked in shelves and bins everywhere. Honestly, you can use anything to store and display your children’s books: old milk crates, bedroom closet shelves, a super cute 3-tiered carts (like the one in the pic above), baskets, or a good old fashioned bookshelf.
Incorporate Reading into Daily Routines
Consistency is key to making reading a habit. Set aside specific times each day for reading, such as before bed or after meals. This not only helps in making reading a routine but also builds anticipation and excitement around it. Having trouble remembering reading time? Set a reminder on your phone or on your Alexa device. Maybe you’re having trouble getting your kid into bed? Grab a flashlight and entice them by reading under covers. Reading with a flashlight always makes bedtime reading more exciting! Encourage your child to talk about what they’ve read, which can help deepen their understanding and make the experience more interactive.
Create a Positive Reading Atmosphere
Make the reading environment inviting and exciting. Rotate the reading materials regularly to keep the selection fresh. Add a small basket to their bookshelf and switch out the stack each season or holiday (set a reminder on your phone and you’ll always remember).
Have you’ve seen the adorable Kohl’s Cares stuffed animals that go with popular children’s books? Grab a new set ($5 for the book and $5 for the stuff animal) and display it. It just may get your kid sucked into a new reading series that they’ve never tried before.
Do you have a child that has an obsession or love for a certain topic? Personalize their reading space by creating a bookshelf with their favorite items. In our son’s room we’ve created a sports-themed bookshelf. It includes many sports books, but it also has his other favorite picture books too. Don’t feel restricted to a certain type of book just because you create a themed bookshelf. It’s more exciting if you continually personalize the space with your child’s artwork or posters related to their favorite books and characters. We regularly change the display on top of this bookshelf to encourage him to read new books and explore new topics.
Lead by Example
You don’t need to tell me twice to lounge on the couch and read a book while the kids play! Experts agree: reading your own books for enjoyment shows your child that you value reading. Read around your child and they will emulate your behavior. You can also share reading experiences with your child, whether it’s a book, a newspaper, or a magazine. Shared reading as a family can also be a wonderful way to bond and create excitement around books.
My kids see how excited I get when I buy a new book, when I host book club, or when I go to the library. They see me reading cookbooks, magazines, my kindle, and most often…a good novel that I’ve found second-hand at a yard sale or thrift shop. My hope is that they are internalizing this behavior and as they grow up they’ll find joy in reading the same way I do. At least this advice (“Lead by Example”) is the easiest one to do!
Encourage Interaction with Books
Encourage your child to engage with books beyond just reading them. Activities like creating story-related crafts, drawing scenes from the books, or even acting out favorite parts can make the reading experience more immersive and enjoyable. This week the boys and I were inspired to read bird books, since we’ve been watching a nest of baby robins in our backyard. Each day we took pictures of the bird’s progress. We looked up the robin’s bird sound in our Bird Songs book. And sadly, we watched as a hawk stalked and attacked the nest and ate the baby birds. It was devastating, but we turned it into a lesson about predator vs. prey. After that experience, the kids wanted to provide more bird houses for the local birds, so we picked these up and painted them. We know that they birdhouses won’t be a home for robins (since they like to build nests), but they may be home for another backyard bird.
Next week, we are heading to our local bakery for their weekly reading series where we read a book and decorate a cupcake to match the story. I don’t know if they’re as excited as me, but we will be reading “How to Catch a Mermaid” by Adam Wallace and then we will decorate cupcakes with mermaid icing, sprinkles, and candy tails. This kind of interaction helps reinforce what they’ve read and sparks their imagination.
By following these tips, you can create a nurturing environment that encourages your child to develop a lifelong love for reading. Remember, the goal is to make reading a fun and rewarding experience, rather than a chore.
