by Sarah on 9. August 2011 in
Just the other day, some friends and I were having a conversation about what we are all currently reading. We went through the group, with a range of response. Several were currently engaged with “The Help,” another had just started to re-read “Pride and Prejudice,” while the rest were involved in a book club reading, “Room.”
The ladies turned to me for my current reading. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” I said.
Although the extent of my reading these days is laughable, the truth is—I cherish the time of day when the TV gets turned off, noisy toys are silenced, and I get to settle into a quiet space and open a book with my little boy.
I have a passion for reading with kids. Perhaps my love of this stems from the fact that formerly in life, I spent years as a full-time elementary school teacher. However, I believe that most likely… the importance of reading was instilled in me early in life by my mother and grandmothers. I was read to often as a child. I received books as gifts, regularly visited libraries and bookstores, and had daily storytime. Because of this, I now have a fondness for reading… which comes with a sweet sentiment of the times I spent listening to stories read to me by these wonderful women.
So, as a former teacher and product of being read to as a child… I'm going to suggest one thing that can potentially change your child’s life as a future reader. Read with your child every day… no matter how young. It has been proven time and time again that when kids are frequently read to from a young age, they will be more successful readers as adults. No matter the age or stage of your child…be it eating the pages, or starting to read the pages themselves, no time is a bad time to read to a child. Not only does it set a wonderful foundation for when they become readers themselves, it also serves as a precious time between a child and adult where they can engage, enjoy, and learn together.
Luckily, there are thousands of wonderful books out there, for kids of all ages! The children’s books genre is full of classics as well as more recent treasures that are new on the market.
Because I am currently in the middle of toddlerhood- the types of books that have the most staying power are those with clear, bright illustrations and interactive capabilities. Some of our current favorites are:
Dog by Matthew Van Fleet
Trucks (Bright Baby Series) by Roger Priddy
Goodnight, Baby: Tuck all the Babies into their Beds by Ikids
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (and ALL other Eric Carle books!)
And a few new ones we can’t wait to get our hands on…
Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig
One Pup’s Up by Marsha Wilson Chall
Yummy, Yucky by Leslie Patricelli
Hip Hop by Catherine Hnatov
Keep in mind…it’s also powerful when kids see their parents reading for enjoyment, so pick up a good book and take a couple of minutes for yourself!
