‘Children become readers on the laps of their parents.’

Our language is ridiculously complex. It is a melting pot of bits and pieces collected and adapted from other languages over a long period of time. There are patterns and word parts and origins and rules that sometimes work, but often don’t. I am certainly no linguist, and this is not a lesson in grammar or spelling, in fact I have some very bogan-esque qualities to my speech (I say ‘reckon’ A LOT, I pronounce ‘plain’ as ‘playin’ and I get very confused when writing the words ‘broccoli’ and ‘margarine’ on a shopping list). This is about stories, and their importance in fostering a child’s love of reading. Reading, to me, is a ticket to see the world. 🌎

I wrote the other day about my change in perspective from teacher to parent, and it is from a parenting perspective I talk about reading now. 

I’m just going to write about a few things you can do at home to sow the seeds for a love of reading. I hope in writing this I don’t come across as a ‘know it all’ because trust me I am as frazzled by the whole parenting experience as anyone else, I very often feel like Tom Hanks in Castaway. This stuff just interests me and I know a little about it so I thought I might as well share.

Righto, here are my thoughts:

1. Telling stories from birth is a good thing, but it doesn’t have to mean reading books. You can tell them a story about what you bought at the supermarket – they won’t know the difference they’ll just love your voice and facial expressions.

2. For young babies, books are an excellent way of stretching out tummy time. Both of my boys hated tummy time but they loved looking at the pictures in books. Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox was a tummy time favourite for both of them.

3. Follow their lead. Our oldest son has always loved being read to, his attention span with listening to stories was pretty good from a very young age. It is still the best way to calm him down. Our youngest is entirely different, until very recently he would not sit still long enough to read more than a couple of pages (he was a big fan of eating them though). He’s showing a much keener interest now, but the books must involve some sort of transport. We have read the same truck book to Sid a gazillion times and I’m still waiting for the day when Bobby will choose something more arty than There was an old man who swallowed a ute but if they like it, I like it.

4. Repetition, though annoying, is wonderful for developing reading skills. If I never have to read The Wheels on the Bus again I won’t be sorry, but it is through that repetition that children gain control over the rhythm and language of a story, particularly songs and fairy tales. Children’s imaginations are far superior to ours, when they have their favourite story read to them it is more than words on a page, it is an experience.

5. Meaning is the most important part of reading. Letters and sounds are obviously pretty important too, but if a kid doesn’t make some sense of what they are reading, they won’t enjoy it. At the age of three (or four) I honestly don’t give two hoots if Bobby doesn’t know letters and words exist. That part will come, but first, stories. Let them get lost in the pictures and stories. That idea might not sit well with others, it’s just my personal view.

6. Make up stories. One of my greatest parenting hacks for getting our oldest son to sit patiently at the doctors is to whisper stories in his ear (unfortunately that doesn’t work with the youngest yet so I’m often the mother with two kids rolling on the floor). If you’re no good at conjuring up stories just retell one you know, like The Three Little Pigs. If you really want to put them on the edge of their seat put them in a starring role (your kid’s name replaces the wolf or princess or child in the story). I still remember my Dad doing this for me.

7. Make it part of your routine. Children thrive on routine, there’s something about knowing what comes next that helps them feel calm and secure. Even if no other reading happens during the day we always do a book before bed, do whatever works for you.

8. In terms of knowing letters and sounds, take it easy and make it incidental. As I said before, I’m not too worried about the formal teaching of letters and sounds until school. Bobby knows he has a B at the start of his name because he asked me what it said once, now any time he sees a B he says “it’s B for Bobby”. He asked what letter Sid has so I showed him an ‘S’ and we noticed it looks like a snake. That’s it, and I don’t care if that’s it for a long time. ‘Trees that grow slowly bear the best fruit.’ If he shows an interest in learning more as he approaches school-age then that’s terrific, but I’m not after the highest achiever, I’m after a kid who enjoys stories. Reading is a slow game.

9. When it comes time for learning how to read at school, oral language is a big deal. Oral language refers to the words a child can both understand and draw upon to use themselves. For a range of reasons, two children can start prep with widely varying banks of oral language. This impacts hugely on their ability to read and write. It is through stories and rich conversations that children make sense of how our language works, and build their own vocabulary. If parents have one job before their kids start school it is to build their child’s oral language. As it happens though, we have a million jobs to do, so we just do the best we can. Lots of talking does the trick.

10. Libraries are the best. I cannot speak more highly of them. I’m sure they speak highly of me too, since my late fees have probably paid for a fair crate of books. But seriously, they are an untapped resource.

11. Do your best then banish the guilt. Reading should be pleasurable. When I had my first son I had oodles of time to read with him, my second son did not have the same experience. If we got through those early days without any tears (mine) then that was a win. As my good friend wisely said to me, ‘If you didn’t read and talk to your first born the house would be silent. The second child hears you talking to the toddler all day long.’ (His first words should therefore have been “No Bobby” ha ha). There’s enough to stress about in the world of parenting, we all do our best.

That’s about it, no fancy apps necessary.

I’ve probably missed some important stuff, but honestly, children who go on to become great readers are those who understand and take pleasure in what they are reading. That starts with us.

Eliza xx

* This post is about nurturing reading prior to starting school. For some children there will be stumbling blocks once they start formal education, in which case I strongly recommend initiating positive, respectful communication with their teacher.