When we begin a family, we ask ourselves what values, traditions, expectations, and dreams we want to uphold.
As an avid reader myself, it has always been my hope to raise a home of readers. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around the power of a good book. I loved:
- Finding characters whose fictional lives mirrored my own.
- Browsing my bookshelf for the perfect book to bring along to my first overnight summer camp.
- Anxiously anticipating the release of the next book in a series… and crying when the series ended.
- Earning prizes and experiences in the local school’s or library’s reading programs.
- Eagerly standing in line with a best friend for the midnight release of the film adaptation of a favorite book.
Raising Readers: The Research
There may be no greater experience we can provide our children than early and consistent access to books.
An abundance of research has proven this provides children with a lifetime of advantages. Reading to them and filling our home with books can:
- Support brain development
- Improve academic success
- Expand vocabulary
- Increase comprehension
- Build empathy
- Reduce summer learning loss
- Decrease aggression and hyperactivity
- Positively impact lifelong health outcomes
With decades of research proving these outcomes, we introduced our child to books early, ensured books were accessible throughout our home, adopted book-focused routines and traditions, sought out book-focused activities, and expanded our definition of “reading.”
Start Early
To announce to my parents the news of their first grandchild, we gifted them a collection of grandparent-themed children’s books in the hope they would read them to future grandchildren.
On our next visit back home, my parents greeted us with our baby’s first board books. Ever since, books have been included on holiday and birthday wish lists.
Part of our nightly routine has always been to read two books together as a family before bed. When our three-year-old transitioned to just one nap a day (and later just a quiet time), we added additional reading time to calm down from the morning’s activities.
Find Space
As our home library grew, we relocated all the children’s books to places where our son could access them.
All the board books were kept on a bookshelf in his room, easily available for midday nap time and late-night rocks.
The décor that had adorned our entertainment center for the past five years was quickly replaced with picture books, including my childhood collection of The Berenstain Bears and Little Golden Books.
Our son’s books now claim much of our entertainment center, and he’s able to select and return books with ease throughout the day.
Establish Traditions
Books as Gifts
To proactively limit our holiday shopping, my husband and I determined early on that our children would always receive four presents from us for Christmas: something to wear, something they need, something they want, and something to read.
This year our son’s “to read” present was a small collection of Berenstain Bear books, a current favorite series.
Books as Entertainment
Anytime we are flying or driving more than four hours one way, I take my son to Barnes and Noble and allow him to pick out a new book for the trip. If our travel time is longer than five hours, he gets to choose two books.
Once home, I write on the book’s inside cover the details of the trip and pack it away in his backpack until we depart.
Identify Activities Focused On Reading
In our region, there is no shortage of reading-focused activities, particularly at our local libraries.
By introducing our son to the library at an early age, he has made new friends, practiced listening and comprehension skills, modeled appropriate library behavior, encountered a diverse population of people, and identified many new topics of interest.
A visit to the library has become one of his favorite adventures and our weekly routine includes at least one visit to the Fargo Public Library. On Mondays, you’ll find us attending a morning story time session, followed by completing the weekly scavenger hunt, and some playtime in the Wiggle Room.
In our son’s first year, we began the Fargo Public Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, an effort to encourage reading for young kids.
Redefine Reading
As our son has grown, we have expanded what it means to “read” and what defines a “book.”
While he still enjoys an exciting board book or picture book, he has found additional ways to engage with stories.
Wonderbooks
The Fargo Public Library has Wonderbooks, print books with a built-in audiobook and child-friendly directions. Each book offers an audio version of the story as well as a discussion version that poses questions and encourages comprehension and analysis of the story.
The library has a variety of picture books and children’s chapter books available as Wonderbooks. The books are rechargeable and compatible with wired headphones.
Tonies
For a long time, I scuffed when other parents recommended a Toniebox as an engaging, screen-free addition to my son’s possessions. However, as soon as he received one as a gift, I witnessed why so many parents love them.
A TonieBox is an audio player that reads stories, sings songs, shares information, plays back custom recordings, and instructs children through dances, meditation, or yoga. Tonie figurines are available for nearly every subject and character and, when placed on top of the TonieBox, play content related to the figurine.
For example, my son’s favorite Tonie currently is the astronaut that plays space-themed stories and provides facts about our solar system. Other favorites include Paw Patrol’s Marshall, Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, and Nickelodeon’s Blaze and the Monster Machines.
My hope is that by instilling a love for books, stories, and imagination, our son will be adequately prepared for kindergarten and beyond.
And, if we’re lucky, his love for reading and learning will continue to blossom well into adulthood.
