A Book as a Friend. Teach Your Child a Love of Reading.

We can all certainly agree that reading is beneficial, entertaining, and worth making part of our lives. Well… at least we parents can agree on that. With children, especially older ones, it is often not that simple. So let’s take a look at how to inspire a lasting love of books in them.

There is no doubt that a relationship with reading should be nurtured from an early age. Unfortunately, even that is no guarantee that a child will not lose interest in books later on, when they begin deciding for themselves how they spend their free time.

Books and the Little Ones

Books belong in a child’s life from the very earliest age. At first, they are more like toys that even babies can play with. Sitting on mom’s or dad’s lap, children first listen to nursery rhymes and later to engaging stories. In any case, contact with books becomes a natural part of everyday life. Let your child flip through pages, look at pictures, and point to them. At the same time, teach them from the beginning how to handle books properly:

• turn pages carefully
• touch books only with clean hands
• do not bend them
• do not draw in them unless they are designed for it

As long as you are the one reading to your children, it is still fairly easy. Later, however, comes the period when they start reading on their own, but it is still difficult for them. This is the moment when reading can become completely discouraging. How can you avoid that?

Although it is good to read every day, it must not become an obligation that has to be followed at all costs. You surely have days yourself when you are tired and do not feel like reading. Do not leave reading for moments when the child is tired or distracted.

Choose a book together that the young reader will truly enjoy. Children like texts divided into shorter sections, where they can rest while looking at pictures or doing a small activity. If reading is not going smoothly, do not try to break records – instead, read in small portions.

Independent Reader

Once your little reader can handle reading without problems, the main goal becomes developing a love for books and the stories hidden inside them. How can you support this? Forget pressure and compulsory reading. Focus instead on experiences, emotions, and shared time together.

• Look for books where children can actively participate in creating the story or completing tasks.
• Accept that at first, it is not important WHAT they read, but that they read at all. If the book is not inappropriate in any way, grit your teeth and bring home the one your child chose themselves – even if they selected it only because of the pictures or title.
• Even the biggest book hater may be convinced by comics. They may not be a full-fledged book, but comics can still help build the habit of spending time reading instead of using a phone.
• Talk together about the book. Let your child tell you what is interesting in the story, what is happening, and what is new.
• Support your little illustrator – Does your child enjoy drawing? Let them read part of a book and create an illustration. You can join in too and compare how rich the world of imagination can be.
• Connect reading with a ritual and a regular specific time. Sit together on the couch, each with your own book, and enjoy a shared moment before bedtime or after lunch.
• If children never see you with a book, it is much harder to convince them that reading is an enjoyable part of everyday life.
• Keep books visible and within reach. Install narrow shelves with rails in the child’s room that are designed to display books front-facing. They may not hold many books, but children will notice them more easily. You can rotate the displayed books from time to time.
• Going on vacation? Try finding an engaging book about the place you are visiting.

The Battle with Mobile Phones

The biggest competitor in our effort to inspire children to read is undoubtedly the mobile phone or tablet, with its fast, effortless, and easily accessible online content. But this is a battle we must win! How can you encourage your child to reach for a book instead?

• Children are often discouraged by long, continuous text. Even older children may benefit from books that are more structured and include attractive illustrations.
• Play a comparison game – choose a book that has been adapted into a movie your child has not yet seen. Read part of the book together so they can imagine what the characters and setting look like. Then watch the movie. How did the child’s imagination differ from the director’s vision? Isn’t it exciting to become your own director and create your own world?
• Does your child have a favorite topic they want to learn as much as possible about? Explain that the right book offers not only facts, but also broader context, stories, and deeper understanding.

We believe our tips will help you raise an enthusiastic reader. We wish you many wonderful moments with books!

Your Mama Labels Team