8 Ways to Help Toddlers Enjoy Reading

Did you know that as a parent you have the power to boost your child’s learning and set them up for success in life, simply by reading to them every day?

Evidence shows that reading for pleasure from an early age increases brain power, boosts self-esteem and strengthens language and communication skills. So even if your little one is still a toddler, now is a good time to start building their reading habits.

Toddlers are generally in the emergent stage of reading, when they're just gaining an understanding of how a text works. They will display good book handling behaviours, knowing where the book begins and ends and understand that print and pictures convey a message. 

When your child is displaying these reading behaviours, you can assist them in their reading development by pointing out words on signs, words around the home and words at the supermarket. Talk about the meaning of favourite books at bedtime and make links between these stories and their own experiences.

When I was younger I loved reading, so I've always wanted to foster that same love of reading with my girls. I started collecting children's books before they were even born, in the hope they would enjoy reading as much as I did. Thankfully my big girl is already showing an early love of reading by regularly selecting books off her shelves and "reading" them by herself. Of course at the moment she only recognises letters and numbers, not words, so she makes up the story based on the pictures.

I've been quite lucky that she has a natural interest in books and reading, but I'm still not entirely sure how to capitalise on this and help her learn to read for real. So I got some tips from an expert. Ryan Spencer, Dymocks Literacy Expert and State Director of the Australian Literacy Educator's Association, has kindly shared 8 ways parents can encourage toddlers to enjoy reading. I was thankful to learn that I'm already naturally doing a few of the things he's recommended, but I also didn't know about some of the others {I definitely would of been a word pointer if I didn't read this list}.

8 WAYS PARENTS CAN ENCOURAGE TODDLERS TO READ BOOKS {AND ACTUALLY ENJOY IT}

1.Read with Your Child Every Day

Regular reading routines are essential to developing effective reading habits. Set aside a time every day when you and your toddler can read together, and another time when you can share your favourite parts of the book.

2. Let Your Child Choose What They Read

Book choice is an component of the reading process. As adults, we very rarely read anything that we either don’t love or enjoy. Why then do we insist that children must read cover to cover something that they don’t necessarily enjoy or like? Often these imposed choices on children come from a place of love – we are trying to support the children in accessing a text that is at their reading level. It is often hard to let go and let children choose their own books. This is vital, however, for developing strong, self-sufficient readers.

3. Relax

The simplest way to encourage children to engage in reading is to relax around the process. The physical location can make a real difference to how the reading is perceived and enjoyed. Try lying down on the lounge room floor, Mum and Dad’s bed, or outside under a tree. Make it a time that is quiet, safe and warm.

4. Make Reading Time Fun and Quick

It is easy and necessary to make reading together the most fun time of every day. Read together with funny voices and try humorous books to engage the reluctant readers in your family. You should aim for no more than ten minutes reading together – just enough to encourage the kids to come back tomorrow. Set a timer if you need to, it will encourage them to ask for a minute or two more when reading time comes to an end. 

5. Don’t Be a Word Pointer

The core of the reading process is making meaning. When a child changes a word in the text, they are being a resourceful reader. They are working towards making sure that the text that they are reading makes sense for them. Getting stuck on a word in many cases results in pointing at the unknown word and sounding out, or the parent becomes the “instant word factory” and supplies the word to the child. Both of these strategies are unsustainable. When figuring out unknown words, sounding out is the least effective strategy because the clues aren’t in that word – they are in the rest of the sentence or the pictures. Encourage your child to skip the word and read on for more information, use the pictures for a clue, or even leave the word behind and continue reading.

6. Have A ‘Screen Free Night’ Each Week

Make a screen free night part of your family’s regular routine where everyone in the family picks up something to read. Having your children see you read and talk about books adds value to this reading time. Different approaches to the screen free night may be to invest in reading lamps or book lights so that children can read in bed before sleep.

7. Visit The Local Library and Bookstores

Make regular visits to the local public library and bookstores as part of your family’s routine. These trips are simple ways to drive reading passion.

8. Give Books As Gifts

Whether it’s a birthday or Christmas, give books to your kids as gifts. Encourage your child to lend and swap their books with friends once they have read them.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5

Spark the imagination of little readers with a range of picture books, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Below are five classic picture books recommended for children under 5, you can read a full review of these classic children's books here.

• Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey
• Possum Magic by Mem Fox 
• Wombat Stew by Pamela Lofts 
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson 
• Hairy Maclary by Lynley Dodd 

MORE PICTURE BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

• 9 Picture Books about Australia
• 12 Books about Starting School 
• The Best Father's Day Picture Books
• The Best Christmas Picture Books

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