On Raising Readers

I was discussing parenting and raising avid readers with a patient yesterday and ultimately sad to him “Boy if you don’t just sit there and let that kid see you with an open book in your hand!” Seriously, model the behavior you aspire to see them espouse. Toddlers and preschoolers are naive enough to assume you’re reading even if you’re actually daydreaming about your next trip to the grocery market. So.. fake it 'til you make it.

Here are a few suggestions to keep books for the whole family nearby for spur of the moment reading time:

• Audiobooks.. yes, this counts as reading!

• Download Libby or Overdrive for 24/7 access to library materials on all your devices.

• Store "emergency" books, compact editions, in your glove box, at your desk, in your purse, school bag , or diaper bag.

• Magazine subscriptions... old fashioned and lightweight, but it works. The Week Jr is a big hit around here.

• ALWAYS brake for little libraries. Leave a book & take a book :-)

A cute, pocket sized book my little one keeps in her school bag.