So, you’re a mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, sitter, friend or even a teacher? Reading is fundamental. Reading is necessary. It is NEVER too early to expose children to reading and really, the earlier the better.
As you may know, I’ve become a grandmother and one thing I see, which is so exciting to me is my daughter and son-in-love understanding the significance of exposing the new baby to reading, books, libraries, stories and the like. It is never too early to help them find their way in the world of books, literature and imagination. It broadens their horizons, provides them with new ideas and takes them places they possibly could not go.
Here are 5 tips for helping the young one in your life grow in the area of reading:
1. Library Day– Every library in these United States of America has a story time. If at all possible avail your young one to these free services. They will be in a room of like-minded individuals and be able to hear stories from far and near.
2. Library Checkouts– Take your little one to the library to check out books, tapes, CD’s and more. All you need is a “free” library card from your local center and you’re good to go.
3. Dollar Store Books- Of course you can go to Barnes and Nobles and buy top-of-the-line books. You probably should buy the “staple” fantastic books for your own at home shelf. For example, you might like Charlotte’s Web, Lillie’s Purple Plastic Purse, The Wide and Lonesome Prairie, We Three Kings, The Story of Jesus, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Hiding Place(for older kids) and the like, but it will be thrilling for a toddler to be given a dollar to buy a book at The Dollar Store and then have it read to him or her!
4. Our Home Book Shelves– As mentioned above, the home bookshelf should have the classics of your family and then the less well known should be traded out like toys in the toy box.
5. When Visiting– When going to the grandparents’, friend’s or an uncle or aunt’s house, it’s always a good idea to have a time of sharing stories, books and tales. This makes it a universal, “we love books” theme in the life of a child.
Most important is the availability of reading at every possible turn. It’s never too early to learn to read.
And, as it’s been said, “Everybody has a story”.
Josie
