Reading: It's What We Do!

Time can get away from all of us when we are wiping noses, changing diapers and clothes, cooking, and (if you're like me) driving day in and day out! As hectic and stressed as our days can get, we try really hard not to neglect reading time with each of our three children on a daily basis.

We started reading with our first child when he was just a couple of months old. At first I really didn't know what effect it would have on him. We would read a couple of board books before both naps and just before bed at night. After a while we realized how much each of us looked forward to it. It was our routine, it's just what we did! This routine carried on with our next two children and they have always looked forward to it!

Reading has become a habit in our house, almost like a tradition. We give our children new books during holidays, birthdays, vacations or sometimes just because! Now when I say give, it's not always a brand new book for them to keep. We borrow from our local library all the time so that keeps the stories fresh and new! Our children love the variety, not to mention, using their own library cards! We keep books in our car rather than DVDs.

Our children's rooms all contain books. There's always room on a shelf or a basket for a few books! As our children have grown their interests have changed. Three children mean three different kinds of reading material at any given time. We have board books, chapter books, information books, biographies, and age appropriate magazines, to name a few! Right now our oldest is into Boys Life, National Geographic for Kids, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Harry Potter! Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Treehouse books were a favorite for a while too.

Our daughter is just starting to make those early reading connections so we have lots of beginner books for her. Currently she loves Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor and Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant. She also loves for us to read the descriptions in the latest American Girl doll catalog.

Of course our youngest is just starting out in board books. Some of his favorite authors include Sandra Boynton, Margaret Wise Brown and James Marshall. He really likes Goodnight Moon and Hey Diddle Diddle but his all time favorite is Peek a Who? by Nina Laden! He loves to open the books, look at the pictures and ok I'll admit, even chew on a corner or too!

Also, for quick bursts of reading we use Brain Quest! Brain Quest are fun question & answer flashcards on general knowledge, math, etc. all based on age/grade level. We have a basket in our living room that the kids enjoy being challenged with. It can be a quick confident booster and hey, it fosters that together time again, even if it's only for a few minutes!

I'd love to hear about how you incorporate reading in your families. What are some of your children's favorite topics, stories and authors?