A Love Story of a Reader
I get a lot of messages from moms who are discouraged that their kids don't like to read (or be read to).
My best advice? Just keep reading.
This, of course, isn't a guaranteed formula to raise a voracious reader... but perseverance and patience surely can't hurt.
A few other ideas:
📖 Find books that interest your kids, even if they aren't your first choice.
📖 Read your child's favorites over and over again.
📖 Let your children see you read. (Sometimes this habit is better "caught" than "taught.")
📖 Allow them to move and snack and play quietly while you read if they aren't interested in sitting still.
📖 Use our book lists (visit brighterdaypress.com under the "book lists" tab) to find the best wholesome, engaging books for your child's age and interests.
And then, keep reading. It might just pay off. ✨
Would you believe it if I told you that toddler Liam wanted very little to do with books? (Pictures can be deceiving.)
As a new mom, I ordered all the board books with the best Amazon reviews. But as soon as I'd sit down to read with Liam, he was more interested in the nearest electrical outlet or scrounging through the diaper bag for a snack. He loved throwing books, tearing out the pages of my Bible, running away from me squealing, or just about anything except sitting down to read. It felt like a losing battle. But for some reason, I stubbornly kept reading.
I read Giraffes Can't Dance until every word was memorized. Even today, the words dance on my lips and tumble out in rhythm.
Sometimes I read all alone in his room after he'd flashed a mischievous smile and run away, hoping someday he would understand how truly delightful reading could be and would want to stay.
Liam's book boycott didn't last. He learned to read just before kindergarten, discovered the power of a great story, and has hardly looked back.
These days, he laps up chapter books like water. He sits spellbound for hours, traversing great distances and decades with his favorite characters-turned-friends.
Reading has strengthened our family bonds more than I imagined it could. The two of us keep a monthly book date where we sip decaf lattes and discuss our latest reads. It's honey to both of our hearts.
Sometimes, I catch a glimpse of the dimpled toddler face that's since thinned out and can hardly believe it's the same kid. The one who ran away when I pulled out a book just a few years ago.
So mama, if you're there right now, don't give up. Don't you dare shelve those great stories in defeat. Keep reading, even if your toddler wants nothing to do with it. Read aloud. Read often. Keep making trips to the library and filling up your basket. Be patient for the day things change, because when it arrives, it will be magical.
Keep reading. It just might pay off!
