As a child I loved reading. My sister and I would go to the library every week and take out the maximum allowance of books and read as many as we could. One of the extra benefits of having a twin was that we could get twice as many as we swapped and read each others after we had finished our own! We also always had a large collection of our own books at home on the shelves. So when I had children, naturally one of the things I wanted to make sure I instilled in them is a love of reading.
With a 5, 4 and 2 year old, we’re still early on in our journey and this is always a work in progress. My eldest, at 5, is progressing well with his reading, and the younger two still never too young to enjoy a book – either exploring it by themselves just looking at the pictures and words, or sharing a book with an adult.
This is Mr Z at around 3 months old. I did get overexcited and prepared him a shelf of books in his baby nursery before he was even born! We still have most of these books and they have been enjoyed by all three of the boys throughout the years, and of course we have added lots more to our collection since then.
I’ve listed many of our favourites in a book recommendations for toddlers post. I also got him Arabic books before he was born – never too early to start! We still have a couple of those, but you can see a post of Arabic books for kids which we got more recently from Kuwait.
We always have books available in the house and make time for a story each evening, which I hope will help them to stay enthusiastic about books and reading as they grow up. I want reading to be something fun, and not to be seen as a chore. I always felt that developing a love of reading is a gift, as with it you need never be bored and it opens up so many exciting and magical worlds to explore.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island” – Walt Disney
The time when children first learn to read is so lovely, I’ve really enjoyed seeing Z gain confidence in his reading over the past year.
“Oh, magic hour, when a child first knows she can read printed words!” — A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith 1943 [Click to tweet]
“To learn to read is to light a fire” – Victor Hugo, Les Miserables
In our eagerness to help our children learn, it can be easy to push them too hard or end up turning learning into a negative experience. I have had to check myself for this at times, and I found this post on what not to say to emergent readers from TeacherMama.com really positive and a useful reminder for me.
I always try to facilitate opportunities for the children to learn in a fun and less pressured way. My post on literacy activities for children gives some suggestions. Also have a look at Damson Lane blog which is currently my favourite book related blog, with lots of brilliant activities to link in with their book of the week each week.
Check my Children’s Books Pinterest board for more ideas and book reviews.
A final message from Baby Z…
Image source: (pin picture) Shutterstock (modified)
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
I didn’t realise it was world book day. Do they still get a book token at school? I have been trying to make more time for reading myself and really enjoying some good books lately. Reading for fun is definitely a great thing to encourage 😉
yes, we still get the token every year!
Thank you so much for including Damson Lane. I am really enjoying sharing our favourite books and fun things to do alongside them and it really makes me so happy to know that someone else is enjoying it to. Reading is an incredible skill and I love that you have a fully stacked bookcase in the little ones room. It is so important to read to babies and preschoolers and really enjoyable too. Happy World Book Day and thank you again xx
I couldn’t agree more, and it is good to keep some childhood favourites I have my sons tucked away in a box for him to treasure.
There is nothing better than losing yourself in a book, I did the same with my twins, books were always around, despite consoles, tv’s and laptops vying for attention and as teens they lost the love a little, they are coming back to it. My daghter reads avidly again. Son occasionally but the love is there and will be strong when he is older.
Love reading to my kids is nothing better 🙂
I firmly believe in reading to your children from babies, they like to hear your voice even if they can’t understand! I read to my boy from a baby and he still loves to read at 15, which it this day and age is a wonderful thing!
Great post and I totally agree. My kids love reading and always have done. We started reading to them very young (your baby pics are great btw) and always have books in the house, and of course they see us reading too. Books are so fantastic, brilliant for the imagination and creative. And so portable!
It is great to introduce books early on, the children have all had books from being babies and they all love books. Lovely quotes x
Reading is so important and getting your children to enjoy books at a young age is a great way to help them. I have been really lucky that my eldest has always loved books and he is now a very confident reader. I’m really pleased that his little sister seems to share his love of books too!
Ah he looks really cute with his book. I love those quotes x
We are finally getting to grips with our eldest reading after 6 months at school. We alternate Biff and Chip (who I believe bore most parents!) with other books we love.
I really do believe there’s no greater gift to give to children than a love of reading. Great post!
I love reading, and hope to pass on that love to all of mine. The bigger two tend to read by themselves these days, tho the ten year old does still have a chapter read to him at bedtime. The toddler loves books, and being my third we have an awful lot to choose from!
We love books in this house! Xavier has Autism and is quite behind at most things but his reading age is 12 and he is 8yrs old! So proud of him!! He LOVES books but for him he loves fact books not stories so much!
I think that just having lots of books available to kids really helps foster a love of reading. I have one that loves books and the other not so much
So important to get that love of reading from an early age!!
That last picture is so cute!! Also a big fan of Damson Lane here 🙂
I’m the same, we love books in this house! x
That is a really lovely post – back to your old style Anna – you brought a lump to my throat 🙂 xx
I love reading…like you I used to go to the library and get as many books as I could. Munchkin loves it too now and is pretty advanced in her reading for her age…. Bee also seems to like sitting down with books already so hopefully she will enjoy reading too.
Reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn. With reading comes education and opportunites
6yo’s book shelves are heaving. I have just had to sort through them and we have a lot to pass on to our friend’s little girl
I’m a passionate reader and it was so important to me that my children love books. We make time to read together every day and I’m so excited for the day when they will be able to read to me.
My parents definitely distilled a love for reading in me, and I have to say I am very thankful for that 🙂 x
Love reading with the kids – Sebastian is very fond of his bath books!
Great quotes and yes it is so important to develop a love of books from a young age.
I love the fact you set up a bookshelf before birth, mine have both had books in their rooms from very early on!
I have NO DOUBT your children will grow up to love reading just as much as you. You’re setting an incredibly strong foundation for them with all this encouragement. It’s great to hear your personal account of how much you want to pass on your own love of books.
That link with tips on what not to say was very helpful. I’m guilty of a couple of things, like interrupting to correct a mistake. I have got a lot better than I was though…I’m on child number 3 now and I try really hard not to interrupt! She has been the one who has found reading the easiest. Her sister (2 years older) gets annoyed because Ella corrects her when she’s reading or offers up the word before Kaycee has chance to work it out.
I’m happy to say though that all three are avid readers and have tons of books in their bedrooms. They still like to get more from the library whenever they get chance!
Reading is a huge part of our lives. It’s great to see other parents encouraging their children to be enthusiastic about it too 🙂
I love reading but I wish I had more time for it
Great pictures! My kids love books…not always reading them but they love listening to them and reading to each other. They are 4 and 6 and since starting school my youngest and picked up reading so quickly! He whizzes through his reading books in no time and loves it!