On the very long list of doing what’s best for our children, we all want to make them strong readers. We know it’s important and truly the foundation of learning. But there are so many things to do in a day! We’ve got some tips and tricks for you on helping your children fall in love with books and build them into strong readers.
Read Every Day: Let your child pick a few books before bedtime and read aloud to them. Make it part of the routine. But here’s the catch, you have to keep your enthusiasm up and make sure bedtime routine is something positive to look forward to and not a chore. We’ve all been there on the bedtime struggle so keep your energy up and just skip a few pages if you need.
Take a trip to the library: You know how other kids toys are way better than their own toys? Well often it works the same way with books! Take a trip to your local library and take some new books home with you. The library is a great hangout on rainy days and during the extremely hot summer months and they often have FREE activities and story times. And a tip, set a reminder on your calendar before you leave for when the books need to be returned.
Let them choose: Maybe your kid picks the same book every night over and over again. So what? If they love it and are excited, go for it. Plus it helps them get used to the words and start to identify them on the page. If your kids are a bit older, match their literature to their interests. Keep them invested in reading and learning by grabbing fiction or nonfiction books in topics that interest them. If they’re into superheroes, introduce them to comic books. The possibilities are endless!
Read in front of your kids: This might be a controversial tip, but modeling good behavior always goes a long way in impacting your children. I love to read but often download e-books. I’ve started buying paperback books again (and checking them out from the library!) so that the kids see me reading. I hear a lot of moms complain about not having the time to read, and I get it! But if you’re sitting on the couch while they watch Paw Patrol it’s totally acceptable for you to grab your book and read a few pages. It’s a win-win when you think about it.
Get their eyes checked: Vision problems can lead to frustration and disinterest in reading for our kiddos. The American Optometric Association recommends comprehensive eye exams at 6 months, 3 years old, 5 years old, and yearly after that. By 6 months old, optometrists can look for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, an eye turn, or lazy eyes. Early intervention can make a world of difference for your children’s eye sight and their lifelong love of learning. We recommend Southwest Orlando Eye Care for all your vision care needs. As InfantSEE providers, you can have your 6-12 month old evaluated by them for FREE. They also see older children and adults making them a one-stop shop for your whole family!
This post is sponsored by Southwest Orlando Eye Care, a company whose mission we love. We are proud to partner with companies that provide such incredible services to local families. Thanks for supporting companies that support Momlando.
