What could be a greater gift to your child than a love of reading?
Many of our customers are first time parents or have little ones who are still young. To mark World Book Day 2023 and the launch of our book offer, we thought we would give our tips that are tried and tested that have really helped to encourage a love of reading in our children.
Create an inspiring reading area
Front facing books on shelves or in a book caddy at your child's height is the best way to engage their interest and want to pick up a book to read. Whether they ask an adult to read with them or simply leaf through it themselves "reading" on their own. We love fellow small businesses Bearwood furniture and Autumns Corner for their book display furniture.
Bearwood Furniture
Autumn's Corner
Interaction
Children love interactive books, whether that be lifting flaps, pressing sound buttons or touching tactile elements. It doesn't have to stop there though. Ask questions about whats happening in the picture, play games like spot the duck, ladybird etc. Get them to turn the pages as soon as they can.
Out and about
Take books with you to restaurants or pubs, if you don't show them screens they won't expect them. My children have always been happy with books and a few toys. Have a book caddy in the car so that they can select books themselves to read and pass the time.
Audiobooks
Again great for out and about and reinforcing books and favourite stories. You can download via apple books or audible but if you are happy to spend I cannot recommend the yoto player enough! With an option of a home audio player or a personal mobile player, they can be easily controlled by a child as young as 18months/2 years old. They are screen free and have an incredible range of books available. The cards are much less wasteful on plastic than other brands and are compact for taking out and about. The players have an abundance of other features like alarm clock, bluetooth speaker, daily podcast and can be completely controlled by the parent via an app.
Learn to embrace repetition
It can be incredibly tiresome re reading the same books over and over again but if your child wants to read a book 10 times in a row (yes I've done it) then go with it. Toddlers learn through repetition and have periods in their lives where their vocabulary is exploding. The phase will soon be over and they will have learned lots of new words in the process
Be a role model
Let your children see you reading, so important in these days of technology. Take the opportunity for quiet time having your little ones read while you do too.
Reading isn't just for bedtime
I found it the best way to get through meltdowns or boredom when my son was below 2, suggest reading a book. It's a great distraction but also a bonding moment and closeness with a parent. I often read books during mealtimes or bath times too at their request.
Rotation and newness
I've always rotated our books and my son was lucky to have been gifted yearly book subscriptions when he was 1 and 2. The change of books and new monthly book that would arrive brought so much joy. You wouldn't believe how excited a child can be about a change of books. It keeps them exciting and fresh when you've had a break from seeing them for a little while. Bring out "new" books with themes you see them interested in at the time, like construction vehicles, farms, ladybirds or butterflies etc.
Enrol at a library
A child is never too young to start visiting a library. It's a great way to add to your personal library, get the newness injection that rotating gives and helps them to have an appreciation of caring for books that don't belong to them.
TV
If you choose to let your child watch screens then showing them programmes or films of their favourite books is a great way to reinforce and bring to life the story.
We hope you like the range of books we have decided to offer alongside our products. They make perfect gifts and are special books to be cherished for years.