Reading Baskets

I love reading to my children! It is such a wonderful way to spend one on one time with them, while at the same time, encouraging listening and increasing learning through the books.

Do you read books to your children? If so, do you ever feel like you only read the same 2 or 3 books all the time while shelves of books sit untouched and unread in the children's room? Or maybe you have a nice selection of Christmas or Easter books, but you only remember them with a sigh after the season is two months past! Well, here is an inexpensive and easy tip to help and encourage reading time in your home.

In my living room, which is where we spend most of our time, I have a basket for both of my children. In each basket I have picked out 5 or 6 books according to their interests. I'm always sure to include one or two of their favorite books so they will be attracted to the basket. I have found if all the books are unfamiliar to them, they tend to shy away from trying the new ones. Then, after a couple of weeks, I take the baskets back to the bookshelves and swap books.

This keeps reading time fresh and allows the children to enjoy all of their books throughout the year. I also am able to think ahead and include the seasonal books to the basket so we can anticipate and better understand the upcoming holiday through our reading. It is also important to place the baskets in a room where you spend most of your time and where the reading will take place. If you read together in the living room, but the baskets are 'out of the way' in the hall closet, your children will not think about the books, and you probably will not remember them either.

I began the reading basket when my first baby was under 1. Somehow, though, I slipped out of the habit for a while until I began noticing that she and I rarely sat down to read together, and my younger son wasn't very interested in his books. But, since I have re-introduced the baskets, we once again read together each day, and my son is always asking mommy to read a book to him too.

So, Mom, take some time today to organize a reading basket for your little ones, and treasure those special times when your children sit nestled up close to you as you read to them!

Kari