How to Develop Reading Habit from Childhood

Wondering how to develop reading habit in your child from an early age? Explore practical strategies and helpful tips to foster a lifelong love for books. Nurture their imagination, spark their curiosity, and embark on exciting adventures through the magic of reading. Let the joy of books become a cherished part of their story, shaping a bright future filled with knowledge and wonder.

The connection between a healthy development and reading is well documented, with experts across the globe encouraging parents to read to their kids. Here are just some of the benefits of develop a reading habit early:

• Start early to nurture their love for books during the crucial brain development years.
• Lay the foundation for better reading skills and academic success in school.
• Enhance concentration and attention spans through focused reading.
• Boost confidence and eagerness to learn new skills.
• Make reading a joyful experience, free from academic pressure.
• Reading improves language, which improves both oral and written communication skills.

Now that you know how important it is to introduce your little champ to books you must be wondering when and how to develop reading habit in your young ones. The answer to the first question is – NOW! It’s never too early to start; you can read to your baby when he’s in utero! Seriously, the earlier the better, so your child thinks of reading as a way of life rather than a special event. Here are some tips to help you kick start the reading habit.

How to Develop Reading Habit from Childhood

1. Keep a collection handy

Curious how to develop reading habit in your child? It begins with books! Build a collection of captivating children’s titles, ensuring variety and appeal. Involve your little one in choosing a book and enjoy reading it together. Even if they prefer the same book repeatedly, indulge their preferences with a smile, knowing it contributes to their love for reading. Discover the joy of shared stories and nurture a lifelong reading habit in your child.

2. Make story time fun

Make reading captivating! Bring stories to life by adding sound effects and engaging noises. Even babies as young as 6 months will delight in your animated storytelling and start imitating the sounds themselves. Toddlers, too, will connect words to sounds, expanding their vocabulary along the way. Foster how to develop reading habit while entertaining your child with immersive and interactive reading sessions.

3. Get books based on interest

While initially you’ll have to keep a variety of books on offer, as your child grows, you’ll find that he prefers certain subjects. If your child enjoys the whacky rhymes by Dr. Seuss, get him the whole collection! By all means, indulge their passions and get them books based on their interests; they’re more likely to develop a reading habit and explore the captivating pictures. Discover how to develop reading habit in your child while catering to their interests and preferences.

4. Get interactive books with textures

Babies and toddlers learn a lot by tactile stimulation, which makes interactive books a great idea for this age group. Lift-the-flaps, pop ups, buttons, different textures, and pull-outs are fun ways for young kids to ‘play’ with their books, even if Mom or Dad isn’t available to read to them. Also look for bath books that can be used in water. Develop a reading habit in your child with these interactive and engaging books, perfect for early learning and exploration. Explore how to develop reading habit in your child with these interactive books.

 5. Reading corner

It’s a great idea to have a dedicated reading corner for your child, where she can go to for some quiet time with her books. All you need is comfortable seating and shelves or baskets for the books. You can modify it as your child grows older and decorate it according to a theme of her choice. Explore how to develop reading habit in your child and create a special space for their reading adventures.

6. Take them to bookstores

Taking a jumpy toddler to a store can sound like a nightmare, but try to get over the fear! Make sure they’re well rested before a visit to a bookstore and they’re sure to enjoy the experience. Most places allow children to browse through the pages and have dedicated places for it. Be careful though; stay with your child at all times and don’t let him tear pages or destroy books. Learn how to develop reading habit in your child and make bookstore visits a fun and educational experience for them.

7. Be a role model

When wondering how to develop reading habit in your child, don’t forget to practice what you preach! Kids learn the most by imitation, so give them something worthwhile to imitate! Let your child see you read the morning paper, a book at night or a novel on the weekends. They’ll soon want to act all grown up by reading a book! Don’t forget the influence of older siblings too!

8. Set a time for reading

While there isn’t a specific enchanting moment to embark on a reading journey, setting aside a fixed time every day helps in developing a reading habit. Most parents prefer bedtime; since that’s when both parents are home and the child is sufficiently settled down to listen. Be sure to choose calming books for bedtime; you don’t want to re-excite your toddler! Learn how to develop reading habit in your child and make it a delightful part of their daily routine.

9. Talk about the book

Don’t simply read the words on the pages; engage your child in conversation about what you see and read. Make connections to real-life experiences to make it more interesting and relatable. When you come across something from a book in real life, point it out to your child and remind them of the book where they saw it last. This will keep the book’s memories alive in their mind for a longer time. Explore how to develop reading habit in your child and create lasting connections between books and their everyday life.

10.Don’t force them

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t force your child to read and turn an enjoyable activity into one that ends in tears! When wondering how to develop reading habit, parents often get too eager. Initially, your child might be more interested in stacking his books rather than turning the pages, but let him do what he wants. He’ll soon come about to looking inside the book and he’ll find that it interests him.

Starting to read early introduces the child to a whole world out there and she is aware from a tender age that there is so much more in the world to read and see. By getting her books of her choice and sticking to a reading schedule, you can be sure that sooner or later, your little one will always be found with her nose buried in between the pages of a book!

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Article By Fabida Abdulla

Fabida is an erstwhile Software Engineer and current Freelance Writer cum Stay at Home Mom to her boisterous 6 year old. In between all the writing, baking, nagging, reading and cuddling, she manages to blog a bit about her crazy life at Shocks and Shoes.