Simple Ways to Help Your Child Love Reading - The Simple Series

Hello and welcome back to the Simple Series!

I took a little Easter break but I’m back sharing the simple ways to make your life lovely! Today I wanted to talk about the ways in which I *think we influenced our son to love reading. Both my husband and I are big readers - I read books and my husband reads articles and reports because he is a freelance sports journalist. It was a kind of conscious unconscious decision to make books a priority. We both just knew we wanted Reggie to have a love of reading. And he does! Boy does that kiddo love reading - so much so he just brings books to us one after another just saying ‘peas!’

I have five tips I believe have made a big impact on Reggie’s love of books and the best thing about them is they are so simple!

1. Make Books Visible - We have Reggie's books in the little Ikea book storage because it means his books are easily accessible and he can choose his own books. It encourages him to have choice and independence over his reading.
2. Make Reading Visible - (This is definitely one I am still working on!) Make sure you are showing your children you reading yourself. I always remember a picture going round on Instagram years ago of a mum reading her book with her child on her lap reading another. Children copy from those around them - so if we show our love of reading that love will filter through into their own lives.
3. Try to Never Say No to Reading - This is a really hard one because there are times when life feels so busy but it’s so important to not say no. I always make sure I take the book from Reggie and say something like 'in a minute' 'lets get dressed first.' Reggie is still too young to fully understand this but I hope as he grows he will notice/understand we won't ever say no to reading because we value that time and activity.
4. Find Books with Repetition/Actions - It’s really lovely for Reggie to be involved in the reading process and feels he's a part of it. His favourite book is Knock Knock (it's linked below!) because he knows when to knock knock - reading feels much more like an activity for all of us!
5. Persevere - We definitely made the effort to always make sure we kept offering books as part of play and kept trying to engage Reggie with books. He has always been interested in them, but his stamina to read wasn't very long but now he has gone the other way and wants the same book over and over again!

• All Join In - Quentin Blake​ - These are poems which are written to be read aloud! I love reading them because they are so much fun and playful.
• There's a Dragon in Your Book - Tom Fletcher - The best book for actions! Your little one has to blow out a flame and high five a dragon. Reggie doesn't understand the story yet but loves all of his 'jobs' throughout the book.
• We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen - An all-time classic! Repetition means Reggie is 'reading' without reading!
• The Nursery Collection - Shirley Hughes - Probably more of a favourite for me! I love reading poetry and this book is just gorgeous and so so clever, mostly in rhyming couplets!
• The Lion Who Wanted to Love - Giles Andreae - Another book written in rhyme with gorgeous illustrations. This was Reggie's first 'favourite' book.
• Lift The Flap First 100 Animals - Roger Priddy - This is a big book so not one we take out with us but Reggie loves animals and this books honestly provides hours (half an hour!) of independent reading.
• KNOCK KNOCK Who's There - Sally Grindley - This is the first book Reggie took part in knocking on the side as a request. We now all know it off by heart so can do it without the book itself!
• The Boy Who Said NO! - Charlie Griffin - This cheeky book is sure to make adults and children laugh! Reggie learned 'no' because of this book. I do find it amazing how he knows when to say no. I suppose it helps that we stop reading and look at him with anticipating eyes!
• First 100 Animals - Roger Priddy - A great one for learning animal sounds! Also its’ good to have a book with you that doesn't require reading as such. You can drink your coffee while engaging in the book.

I hope this post is helpful! I do have one request though! Reggie is quite reluctant to let any new books into his routine at the moment. He likes his set books and rarely lets us read any books outside his circle. SO if you do have any ideas I would love to know!

​Happy Sunday!