“Reading should not be presented to a child as a chore , or a duty. It should be offered as a gift.”- Kate Dicamillo
If there is only one activity that you can do for /with your child ,let it be reading. Reading to your child ,no matter what age they are at has multiple benefits most important of which is bonding.
Many people tell me that it’s easy for me to talk about reading to a kid , as I read a lot and my child has inherited my love for books and as they never read books , their kids don’t like them either. One could not be farther from truth ,because in reality ,love for reading is fostered, not inherited.You can’t suddenly ask a 10 year old to read books and force him/her to enjoy it ,it has to be a slow and gradual process which ideally starts at birth or even before but in all honesty ,love for reading can be fostered at any age although the older you are ,the more time it takes to fall in love with reading ,so don’t just shove a book on a child and expect miracles.
Many people tell me that it’s easy for me to talk about reading to a kid , as I read a lot and my child has inherited my love for books and as they never read books , their kids don’t like them either. One could not be farther from truth ,because in reality ,love for reading is fostered, not inherited.You can’t suddenly ask a 10 year old to read books and force him/her to enjoy it ,it has to be a slow and gradual process which ideally starts at birth or even before but in all honesty ,love for reading can be fostered at any age although the older you are ,the more time it takes to fall in love with reading ,so don’t just shove a book on a child and expect miracles.
In today’s post I will be talking about how to start reading to your kids,what kind of books to select and some tips on where to get good deals without going broke(If you already read to your child ,please feel free to scroll to the ,”Where to buy ?” section.)
How to start reading to your kids -
Just pick a book and start reading ,YES - it is as simple as that.
But let me make it easier for you -
You can start reading as early as pregnancy-reading to your foetus helps them attach a bond with your voice. Just chose your favourite book and read to your bump (I read Harry Potter to mine ). You can even sing , chant or just talk to your bump.
Pack a book in your hospital bag and read from day 0 or you can even get your partner to do this. I understand that it really feels weird reading to your bump or an infant but you will be amazed when they start reaching out for their favourite books or start repeating the sentences from it. Trust me on this one.
If your child is older , just start reading to them ,reading at bedtimes can be a calming routine which helps them transition from play to sleep. If your child is new to books ,try to pick books based on his/her interests (For example ,if your child is obsessed with vehicles,chose books which feature a lot of vehicles in them).Never force a book onto a child; instead make it a fun activity -take them to the store/library and take their help in choosing a book. Let them choose what they want to read everyday from the shelf at home. If your order online ,make a whole production of opening the book and reading it out aloud. Reading to their favourite toy is another great way to get them interested.
If your child has already started reading or just beginning to read -get them books which have simple sentences and are easy to read , start with a genre that interests them.
Lastly ,remember children emulate us ,we can’t look at our phones and expect them to read books. Either read to or with them or pick your own book to read alongside them.
But let me make it easier for you -
You can start reading as early as pregnancy-reading to your foetus helps them attach a bond with your voice. Just chose your favourite book and read to your bump (I read Harry Potter to mine ). You can even sing , chant or just talk to your bump.
Pack a book in your hospital bag and read from day 0 or you can even get your partner to do this. I understand that it really feels weird reading to your bump or an infant but you will be amazed when they start reaching out for their favourite books or start repeating the sentences from it. Trust me on this one.
If your child is older , just start reading to them ,reading at bedtimes can be a calming routine which helps them transition from play to sleep. If your child is new to books ,try to pick books based on his/her interests (For example ,if your child is obsessed with vehicles,chose books which feature a lot of vehicles in them).Never force a book onto a child; instead make it a fun activity -take them to the store/library and take their help in choosing a book. Let them choose what they want to read everyday from the shelf at home. If your order online ,make a whole production of opening the book and reading it out aloud. Reading to their favourite toy is another great way to get them interested.
If your child has already started reading or just beginning to read -get them books which have simple sentences and are easy to read , start with a genre that interests them.
Lastly ,remember children emulate us ,we can’t look at our phones and expect them to read books. Either read to or with them or pick your own book to read alongside them.
What kind of books to buy ?
From 0 to 3 months -A high contrast book(for them to stare at as their colour vision is yet to develop ),a cloth book ,and some books with lovely rhyming words are all you need.
Post 3 months -A simple google search with the age of your baby will lead you to a wealth of resources.
Following hashtags like #childrenbooks #raisingreaders #kidsbooks on Instagram will lead you to a treasure trove , trust me, I bookmark like there is no tomorrow.
Following mommy bloggers or instagrammers who blog about books.
Pinterest is another great source.
Post 3 months -A simple google search with the age of your baby will lead you to a wealth of resources.
Following hashtags like #childrenbooks #raisingreaders #kidsbooks on Instagram will lead you to a treasure trove , trust me, I bookmark like there is no tomorrow.
Following mommy bloggers or instagrammers who blog about books.
Pinterest is another great source.
Where & How to buy books without going broke !
As someone who has gone broke multiple times trying to buy them all ,I have some tried and tested tips.
1.Make lists of books you want
2.Have a fixed monthly budget
3.Consider preloved books/Hand me downs/BookSwaps
4.Get a local library subscription
5.Keep an eye out for online sales and book exhibitions in your city
6.Never stick to age specific books -Pick books your child will grow into -from enjoying the illustrations to reading the book and understanding the story ,a child can really grow with the book.
Where -
For new books -I like online shopping from e-commerce sites like Amazon &Flipkart.
Add all the books you like in the Amazon/Flipkart cart and keep an eye on the for a month or two ,the prices keep fluctuating.
Flipkart also has amazing combo deals -so keep an eye out for them.
Also ,Flipkart &Amazon have great offers especially during sales
Nestery.in has a good collection of Indian authors and publishers. Look out for combos.
For pre loved books -Consider going to pre-loved shops /Book exhibitions in your city.They are great and inexpensive way to source books.
Lock the box ,books by kg are some other great sources for preloved books.
If you can’t go to preloved sales -there are lot of sellers online-on Insta and Facebook who sell books at great deals.
A word of caution - Check the price on multiple sites before buying.
For regional language books-Check local sellers ,Tulika books and Pratham books also have a decent collection of regional language books.
Lock the box ,books by kg are some other great sources for preloved books.
If you can’t go to preloved sales -there are lot of sellers online-on Insta and Facebook who sell books at great deals.
A word of caution - Check the price on multiple sites before buying.
For regional language books-Check local sellers ,Tulika books and Pratham books also have a decent collection of regional language books.
I hope this post inspires you to let your child discover the magical world of books and maybe let loose the child within you too!
And a huge shout to my girl,Maithri Arunkumar for letting me use her space to put this post up.
To reading always,
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