Love for reading is love for knowledge. Raise little readers by making story time fun, engaging, and non-academic. On Read a Book Day, here are some tips on how to turn your little ones into bookworms, and embrace all the benefits that come with it.
- Start them young
Bond while your baby while she or he is still in the womb. Read aloud short story books to your growing little one – this not only allows the baby to recognize your voice. This activity will stimulate learning and relaxation for both mom and baby.
We recommend The World Around Me, to give your baby an idea of what it’s like outside the womb, or Tahanan Book’s Meme the Baby Book, a mom-and-baby favorite that tells the day in the life of a toddler.
- Find age-appropriate books
Newborns surely can’t read yet. They can’t even recognize colors. But you can induce love for reading with cloth books that show contrasting patterns in black and white. Infantway’s Huggabooks Visual Training will surely stimulate your baby’s developing mind.
- Let art imitate life
Looking for ways to explain big life changes to your toddler? Try doing it in story form, which could better explain the situation. If you’re preparing your daughter for a bigger role (or having a sibling) check out Scholastic’s I am a big sister or I am a big brother for your son. Grappling with the loss of a loved one? Hiyas’ Heaven what’s it like could help your child understand love and loss.
- Love the rhyme
They’re easy to read and fun to listen to. Find story books with words that rhyme. You can also catch some picture books that depict classic nursery rhymes; sing it, recite it, act it. Reading to kids should be heartfelt and energetic if necessary.
- Use it as tools to explain their emotions
Toddlers can have tantrums nearly all the time because they have yet to learn how to address their feelings. Meltdowns help them communicate and with storybooks that tackle their emotions, they may be able to better express themselves.
Check out Owl and Dino Little Big Feelings Boxed Set or practice making different expressions with Indestructibles Baby Faces.
- Go for activity books
Lift the flap or busy books are a hit these days, and we need not wonder why. These books allow kids to use their hands and imagination. It gives them freedom to freely participate in the reading activity even if they don’t know how to read yet.
Let those pudgy little hands explore animal abodes with Usborne’s Peep Inside Animal Homes or hunt hiding dinosaurs in Peep Inside Dinosaurs
Meanwhile, play with Eric Carle’s well-loved caterpillar via Phidal’s My Busy Book, distributed by National Bookstore. Pixar Lovers will enjoy Tattle Tales while Peppa fans will have a fun time with Peppa Pig My Busy Book.
- Set up your reading nook
Make books accessible with front-facing shelves. This not only gives your children photographic memory of book covers– it also allows them to independently reach for something to browse at. Check out Hamlet Kids Ezuri Kids Canvas Bookshelf for your toddler or a bookshelf that also comes with storage areas for other toys.
- Have grandparents come over for story time
Make story time a bonding activity. It not only helps children and the old reconnect– it also benefits their mental health. Reading must be a shared enjoyment for the young and old, and based on a study, teachers and parents found a significant difference in students’ reading habits when they consistently read with adults.
- Build vocabulary and self-esteem
When you read aloud with your children, you not only spend memorable times with them. You are also building their vocabularies and boosting their self-esteem.
“The value of reading books aloud therefore exposes children to a linguistic and cognitive complexity not typically found in speech to children,” according to a study.
In another study, they found that when parents read aloud, they “build their child's self-esteem, encourage curiosity about words, and introduce the pleasures of reading.
- Books are something collectible and valuable
When the kids are all grown up, you’ll look back on the days you read to them. Those tattered board books or well-kept sets will make you smile and say, we’ve had a lot of happy days together.
Look for durable books you can pass on to future grandchildren like Usborne’s My First Reading Library or My Very First Words.
