Top 10 Tips to Help Children Love Reading

My children love books and they love reading.

This Top 10 list looks at what parents can do to foster a love of reading from birth. The right start can make all the difference.

1. Start reading with babies right from birth. Get comfortable and read aloud every day for 10-15 minutes. This will help develop a routine for reading enjoyment.
2. Read several different books at times throughout the day or the same book multiple times. Hearing a thousand stories will help a child begin to learn to read.
3. Use your eyes, voice and body to bring a story to life. Using a flat, monotone voice will not convey your excitement.
4. Read the same stories time and time again. Use the same pattern or rhythm each time. In time, children will be able to retell the story to you.
5. Interaction with the story is key. Look at and talk about pictures, connect the story to a rhyme or song and answer any questions children ask. A book does not need to be read cover to cover without stopping to enjoy the pages within.
6. Point to words, pick out letters, think of rhyming words when reading. Whatever you do should be fun and not remotely resemble teaching.
7. Use the three R’s when choosing books for young children. Rhythm, rhyme and repetition are an awesome combination.
8.  Read aloud to kids even when they can read themselves. Tell stories, make up stories together or sing nonsense rhymes-all of which are language-rich activities.
9. Be a good reading role model. Read books, newspapers or magazines for enjoyment.
10. Read, read, read, read and read.

I love reading. My kids love reading too. Whether that is inherent or not, I have no way of knowing. I do know that I have read with my children right from birth. Over the past 6 years I have read thousands of books to Almost 6 and Just 3.

I am a mum who loves to read. My teaching career has spanned nearly two decades during which time I have had the privilege of reading thousands of stories. I majored in children’s literature and I write picture books for fun in my spare time. This top 10 is by no means exhaustive. There is so much you can do with your children and a good book. If you have a book but no child, borrow one from a friend or relative. Reading with a child is magic and they’re the most captive audience you’ll ever have.

♥ Kelly

Image from: here.

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Lovebug Hug to Dog, Frog and Hog

Hugs from the Lovebug are going out today to Dog, Frog and Hog.

I received a warm and carefilled hug from Words for JP a.k.a Kim and her bunch including Pee.

I’m inturn hugging Dog, Frog, Hog, Rat, Cat and Co. via Tania Ingram. If you think I must be drunk on love, head over to Tania’s blog. She might even greet you with a wag. Enjoy your first award, Tania. There will be many more to come (CBCA Award would be the best)!

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The HUG Award© is for people with an expectant desire for the world, for which they:  Hope for Love; Hope for Freedom; Hope for Peace; Hope for Equality; Hope for Unity; Hope for Joy and Happiness; Hope for Compassion and Mercy; Hope for Faith; Hope for Wholeness and Wellness; Hope for Prosperity; Hope for Ecological Preservation; Hope for Oneness

The HUG Award© recognizes and honors those who help keep hope alive in our current world, which is plagued by war, natural disasters, and economic recession.  They nurture hope, in any of the above areas,  by the work they do, or in their personal lives with things such as blogging, public speaking, charity work, etc.

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I Love You at the Library

I’m loving life at the library.

Do you have a love of literature? Which section draws you into its depths when you enter? Do you love a good fantasy novel or are you a chic lit lover?

No matter what kind of genre you are passionate about it can all be found under one roof.

I’ll admit it. Right here, right now. I’m a library lover and I have tried to instill that same love in my kids.

A visit to our local community library is something we indulge in at least once a fortnight. Our first stop now is, of course, the children’s section. Here the kids will divide and conquer the fiction, non-fiction and toy library like a mini army of soldiers. Their missions at present are to find dinosaur, Star Wars, Peppa Pig and truck books and toys. Fortunately the adult fiction is right nearby so I can manage a quick glance over the titles as the little people go about their duties. We always make time to read a book or two on the comfy lounges at the library where there’s no phone for me to answer and no pan on the stove to tend to.

We never leave the library with an empty bag. It’s always filled with books that have been well loved or ready to be lovingly read for the first time. These jewels are especially rare and my No. 1 is always excited when he seeks out a new book on a subject we know so well.

Our library has just announced that eBooks and audiobooks will be available to download soon-anytime, anywhere. I’m not sure if I’m in love with the idea or sad that physical books may someday cease to exist.

I can’t imagine not visiting the library. That smell of old titles lingering on the shelves just waiting for somebody to show them a little love. Looking for the next title that’s going to be lovingly adopted. The sound of pages being thumbed as the words on the page engross its reader. I can’t imagine a life without libraries for my children. That’s almost comparable to a life without love.

I love library time with my littlies.

Image from: here.