An Act of Love

Seen on my social media feed.

My only comment: You get a child to read by making it an act of love. 

Here are five ways I have done it for my little sister, nieces and nephews:

1. Use the evening cuddle time to read with your child. Yes, I know a two-year old cannot understand the words yet, but they will remember how it felt to be safe in the loving arms of an adult, listening to the rhythm of their voice, while you are both staring at this thing called a book. Trust me, do that long enough, and a child will associate a book with being a safe haven.

2. Find any excuse to give kids a book. Strengthen the positive associations with a book: use it an incentive or a gift, make it the prize for good behavior. Christmas? Here's a book. Birthday? Here's a book. You cleaned your room today? Here's a book. You're already using screen time, food, money as incentive. Why not change some of those out (read: screen time) for books?

3. Take them on a shopping excursion. Imagine how it feels to be in a nice, relaxed shopping experience and being able to find and buy something you really like? So nice, right? Translate that for kids. Take them to a huge book store, tell them to browse the kiddie book shelves, pick out one that they really, really love, then buy it for them.  

4. Baby talk. One of the best things in the world is to have someone we care about spend time with us, chatting about anything. It's the same thing with kids. So, every time you do any of the first three suggestions, don't just do it. Make sure that you chat with the kids about the experience with them. Ask them what they think of the book they just read, which character they liked best, what are their favorite parts, and why. Let them tell you how they feel about the book that they got as a gift or a reward, and what other books they are hoping that they can read. Let them argue passionately with you about why you should buy that one book over the other for another when you are on your little bookstore expeditions. Better yet, let them try and argue/sweet talk/bribe you (with sweet, sloppy kisses!) into buying two, or three, or more books for them.

5. Let them know you love reading, too. If you love something, let the world know. Let the kids know how much you love reading. Let them know you hope they would love reading as much as you do, for all the reasons reading became right for you. 

Hope it works. 

P.S.: Favor. Leave children's book suggestions for me below. (Yes, I'm adult who loves reading children's literature.) Thank you!