Share a Good Book…Share Your Love

Often, moms crave some alone time. We crave just a little time alone to cuddle up with the latest Danielle Steele novel or the most current Oprah magazine. But instead of “reading solo”, consider taking that time to cuddle up with a book and your child. We all know that we serve as our children’s first and most “powerful” role model. And when we compound this knowledge with experts advising that when reading aloud to infants stimulates their brains to create new learning pathways and that reading to preschoolers is the most important thing families can do to prepare them for reading….we should really take heed. According to the the Zero To Three organization, children really do love to read, not just because they find books interesting, but because it is a joyful and bonding experience with a parent (zerotothree.org, 2002). The National Research Council confirms this same finding by concluding that reading with a parent provides a time for emotional closeness and provides a foundation for understanding the value of literacy (1999).

On a personal level, I have always been a reader. One of my greatest joys as a child–was adding to an ever-expanding book collection. This love of reading eventually led to my pursuit of an English degree in college and my continued fascination with the written word. It is not surprising that my children also love to read (my daughters took to reading like fish to water—my son required a bit more prodding). Our family typically does not watch TV every evening….and instead, we read. Consider dedicating a few nights (or maybe just start with one) a week to read together. Think of it as a 2 in 1 benefit for your kids—knowledge wrapped up in emotionally warmth.

Shake Up Storytime

Do you have a baby who is less than enthralled with storytime? Perhaps your child is more fascinated by the mechanics of turning pages than the content on them. You can use these tips from Parenting.com to add a little excitement to your routine and keep your baby interested throughout story time:

Create your own plot for the book.
Cover up the pictures and ask “Where’s the bunny?”
Substitute your child’s name for one of the characters in the book.
Let your children play with the books, it’s ok to have a little fun stacking books or turning pages.

Best Literary Books for Your Preschooler

It’s easy to find books for preschoolers. Great artists and favorite subjects will draw your children to books. But while children may end up judging a book by it’s cover, moms can head over to SimpleMom.net for a list of literary books geared towards preschoolers. Our favorite from the list? A Judith Viorst classic:

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Both you and your kids will identify with Alexander, who’s having a day when nothing goes right. Good for kids who get frustrated when things don’t go their way.