Be the Best Mom
I started off 2013 by sharing my New Year’s resolution to “Be the Best Mom” with more positive thinking. Every Thursday I will be featuring a different mama and her plan to “Be the Best Mom” she can be in 2013, including specific steps that you can implement, too! So far we’ve heard from Karyn about her great ideas to teach her kids about good nutrition, from Stephanie with her great tips to get organized, and from Sara with her mission for managing stress in the new year. Now let’s hear how Varya (from Little Artists) plans to make reading fun for her kids…
Make Reading Fun
Did you like reading as a child? When was the first time you started reading to your child?
I am not one of those moms who spent time reading to my children while they were inside my belly. And I am not one of those moms who started reading books to the children as soon as they were born. I talked and talk to them, I make up stories for them, I sing for them and I dance with them.
However, reading is a big part of my children’s life and our family’s in general.
With our first daughter I remember introducing her first book to her at the age of 6 months. It was a simple book with a poem and pictures. She chewed its corners before I could read out the name of the book! The book must have been so tasty because whenever she saw it later (till she was roughly 2), she would grab it and start chewing on it!
My husband and I (especially my husband) start reading to our children from the time they are a few months old and their vision is more clear to recognize objects, colors and shapes. We choose books with less words and more pictures. But we also make sure the pictures are not too overwhelming. Simple pictures catch the baby’s interest and let the baby explore the object/character better.
Once they can move around, we give them access to “baby” books – books that have thick pages or made out of soft material, so they can’t get paper cuts or tear them easily.
When they get even older, we give them more access to books. In our case, it is always fun to shop for books!
We always encourage interactive programs and books on the alphabet and phonics. Our favorite are the Leap Frog series and Starfall website.
The more you expose them to reading, the more interest they show and try to recognize letters and words.
Quite often our older daughter will grab a book she is familiar with and retell the whole story. She also points out the words she already can read and seeks them out in other books and whenever we go out!
6 Keys to Make Reading Fun for Kids
What I learned so far about making reading a fun activity is the following:
1. Let the child explore the book.
2. Teach the child to care for books. It is better to start introducing hard cover books or books made out of soft material so the children, whose natural instinct is to tear, learn to rather flip through them than damage them.
3. Start with picture books or simple picture books with 1-3 words per page.
4. Rotate the books.
5. Take time to read for the child and with the child. Animate what you read with gestures and sounds. Children learn how to express themselves through that and it helps them to enhance their creativity and imagination!
6. Reading before bed is one of the best activities for us: it is calming, soothing, peaceful and gives you a chance to spend quality time with the child. It is also a great part of the overall bed time routine.
Have fun reading and please share your own experiences!
Varya blogs at LittleArtists.blog.com about encouraging creativity in children. She is a mom of 2 girls, an early education expert, a baby massage and perinatal fitness instructor who works with moms and children from birth up to 6 years old.
One of the things I’m most proud of as a mama is the love my kids have for books and reading. My heart swells when I see my littlest (just 13 months old) turning the pages of a board book or my oldest getting excited to be able to read signs as we drive through town. I love hearing Varya’s perspective on reading with kids.
What are your best tips for making reading fun for your kids?
Jen Fischer says
We do all of these things too and it works so well to make reading fun. My 3 yo learned very early on to identify letter and one of the first words he could read was STOP because I would always point out those letters to him when we would go on walks, even when he was very young (6 months or maybe younger). We also love to retell stories in creative ways and this is one of our favorite ways yet – http://jennifischer.blogspot.com/2013/01/virtual-book-club-for-kids-move-eat.html
Marnie says
I also like to have props like mini relicas or stuffed animals to match the story. It really engages the kids.
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
Yes, that’s such a great idea, Marnie! Or a felt board. 🙂
Varya @ littleartists says
Reading corner is my dream. We might be moving to another apartment in summer and I hope to arrange girls’ bedroom with an art corner and reading corner!
The Stepford Wife says
Ever since I remember, I’m crazy about books. I seem to have managed to transfer that love to my children. You can see here how I made them a reading corner – http://stepfordska-supruga-en.blogspot.com/2012/11/how-to-encourage-children-to-read-and.html
Krissy @ B-InspiredMama says
Awesome! I think that’s so important – to model a love for reading. 🙂