Building a Strong Foundation: The Importance of Early Reading for Children

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Establishing a Reading Routine

As parents, we all want the best for our children, and one of the best things we can give them is a love for reading.

Reading is not only an essential skill, but it can also help children develop their creativity, imagination, and critical thinking abilities. Starting a reading routine early on can have a significant impact on a child's cognitive and emotional development.

If you aren’t sure how to incorporate a reading routine into your schedule, here are some tips:

Start Early

It's never too early to start reading to your child. Even infants can benefit from being read to. You can start by reading simple board books with bright colors and pictures.

If you begin to read to your child early, it will be something that they look forward to. They will understand that reading is a regular part of their life and look forward to finding new books and learning new things.

Learn more about the benefits of starting early here: The Power of Reading: Why Reading to Your Child is So Important for Their Development.

Board Books are a great way to begin encouraging reading for small children. There are small books that have flaps to open or textures to feel. One book that my daughter loved was Where’s Spot? You can check it out here:

Make it a Daily Routine

Make reading a part of your daily routine. Set aside a specific time every day for reading. This can be before bedtime or during quiet time in the afternoon.

It can be hard to incorporate reading into a daily routine when you are not used to it. Start with reading for five minutes before you put your child to bed. Tell them that this is a special part of the night, where you enjoy time as a family. After a few days of doing this, encourage your child to read along with you.

If you want to challenge yourself and your family, you can create a reading chart. Or download the free chart below.

This will encourage and remind your family to read a book together until it becomes part of your routine.

Let Them Choose

Let your child choose the books they want to read. Children are more likely to engage with a book if it's something they are interested in.

If they find a book that they think looks fun, read it to them! Allow them to take the lead on choosing what to read. This will allow them to feel in control and excited about reading.

A great way to show children a love for learning is by attending story times at your local library. There are other children that are sitting and listening to stories with excitement and joy. This is a great way to show your children a love and respect for books.

The Easy Reader books have so many options and box sets. You could let your child choose anything from Spider-Man, Hello Kitty, or Paw Patrol. A few of those books are here:

Make it Fun

Make reading fun by using different voices and facial expressions. Encourage your child to act out parts of the story. Have them use a loud voice when the characters get excited and whisper when the characters are sneaking around.

Create shakers to go with the story, draw pictures, or create puppet shows to go with the book. Ask your child to expand on what they read and what they think will happen next.

Find interactive books that will allow you to tickle or dance with your child. Show them that reading will open up their imagination and show them different worlds and genres.

My family has read the Tickle Monster and Boogie Monster Book with the fluffy mitts so many times! These books are fun for the family and will have you all laughing and giggling the night away. Check out Tickle Monster here:

Enjoy This Time

An early reading routine is essential for a child's cognitive, emotional, and academic development. By making reading a daily habit, parents can help their children develop a love for books that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Your child won’t be able to curl into your lap and read a story with you for long. So take this time to encourage a lifelong skill, and soak in all the time with them while they are little.