“We have eyes, and we’re looking at stuff all the time, all day long. And I just think that whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful, tasteful, appealing, and important.” – Eric Carle

With so many kids being used to screens & increase in cases of anxiety & hyper activity within children, it’s a must to get them used to something soothing & calming at a young age. What’s  more enriching &calming than a colorful book with your favorite character. With fewer kids having reading as their main source of entertainment, it’s all the more important to start at an early age to inculcate reading habits.

Here are some ways you can help your toddler  build interest in reading –

1. Read out loud to your toddler and start with basic books
2. Make going to the library and getting out a book a special time
3. Choose right books – Toddlers enjoy looking at colourful pictures. Select books with different textures so that your kid can explore it through touching.
4. Create a ritual out of reading before bed – such as bath, teeth, and bedtime stories for five to 10 minutes, then lights out. Reading is also a great way to calm kids down before sleeping.

Asking questions while reading to your child is not only great for encouraging your child to interact with the book, but it is also extremely effective in developing his ability to comprehend what he is reading. Children who are motivated to read will actively seek out books to enjoy and are happy reading quietly by themselves. Research confirms that motivation is a key factor in becoming a successful reader. When children are motivated, they read frequently, which in turn helps them to become skillful readers. And skillful readers learn well, deeply and successfully.

You don’t have to wait until your children are old enough to actually read before you can begin familiarising them with reading. Encourage and motivate your kids to read as early as possible to instil love of reading in them!! Happy Reading !