Moms Talk: How Do You Encourage Your Kids to Read?

Moms Council member Kristina Bunnell brings us this week’s "Moms Talk" question.

Kristina writes:

I still remember the first chapter book I picked out from the library on my own. It was called "Time Cat," and I felt so sophisticated because it had chapters and only a couple pictures. I ended up loving the story and have been an avid reader ever since.

When our oldest was small we'd read together almost every evening before bed. I was so excited when it was time for him to learn to read, because I have always enjoyed it so much. But then once he'd caught the hang of it, he wasn't interested in reading at all. I started doing story time before bed again, where we would pick a book and read together, but that didn't seem to catch his interest either.  

Finally, I told him about picking out my first book at the library and how good of a story it was. I took him to the library and found “Time Cat.” When we got home he actually sat down and started reading it on his own!  When he put the book down I asked him what had happened and he told me about it. I pretended to remember more than I did and ooh'd and ahh'd over how exciting it sounded. After he finished it, we went back to the library and I showed him where the kids’ fiction books are and let him pick something that sounded good to him.  

After he'd go to bed, I'd read a couple chapters of the book, so in the morning we could talk about the characters and what happened and what we thought might happen next. Being able to chat about it with me finally did the trick, and he was excited to read the next chapter and see if we were right. Now I'm very proud that he reads every night before bed and really enjoys it. Our 2-year-old seems to just love books, and we'll read a couple times a day, as well as before bed and naps. We go to the library once a week and I pick out a new pile of books. I'm hoping if I stay more consistent with reading together, he'll develop a love for reading from the start.

But I’m interested in hearing the ways you encourage your children to read. What works?