Raising a Reader: Will Showering a Child with Books and Stories Produce a Kid Who Loves to Read?

I swear, I started reading to my kids (at least my first one) when they were still in the womb. Somewhere I heard that they'd benefit from the early exposure to reading.

Before the kids could even sit up, we were reading to them. As they grew we read nightly to them and still do.  It’s my favorite time of the day. We snuggle up to read at least three books every night. 

The most dreaded punishment in our house is “No books for you!” On the few times it’s been put into effect the child who lost this privilege was inconsolable and cried himself to sleep.

So, with all this love of reading, you’d think we’d have some great young readers.  Not the case!  For whatever reason, my 7-year-old is still struggling and my 6-year-old is not even close.  My 4-year-old is showing some promise, but it’s too soon to tell. 

And yet, I have friends with first-graders who are on the fourth book of "Harry Potter." I know many children who could read chapter books as they entered kindergarten. What’s the story? Should I be worried?

As I understand it, as long as there isn’t a development issue that needs to be addressed, reading is kind of like potty training.  They all get to it at different ages and they do it when they want to and when they are ready.  If you push them, it only makes it worse.

Paula Lefkowitz, the children’s librarian at the main branch of the , has been an incredible resource. She regularly suggests books based on where my kids are in their journey to reading.  She finds material that will boost their confidence and keep them interested.

Last week on Lefcowitz's recommendation we picked up "Dog In Cat Out" by Gillian Rubinstein.  What a great book!  The whole book consists of four words.  At first I was suspect of its ability to engage anyone with just four words, but my daughter loved that she could read a whole book on her own. 

I’ve talked to other parents recently whose kids are strong readers and a popular challenge seems to be encouraging them to read instead of diving onto the couch for video games or the TV. 

Colleen Bruno, of Powder Mill, a mom of both a kindergartener and a third-grader told me she schedules reading time.

“They have to read for at least 45 minutes to an hour before they get to play the Xbox”

Another challenge is how to stay on top of what young readers are reading for age-appropriate content.  Do you read every book they read first? Do you rely on a website like www.carolhurst.com to give you the scoop on what's in a book?

It’s happened to me even with children’s picture  books. We’ll pick one off the shelf that looks good and then when I read it that night I’ll find myself in the midst of some “hot” topic like divorce or where babies come from and having a discussion I wasn’t fully prepared to have.