https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:51:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2637127 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 19:04:45 +0000 808love 2637127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BrandNewMom: No worries. My daughter goes through phases. Just take a break, then get into it again. Persistence will click in eventually. As long as you are providing a foundation and opportunities for literacy, she will eventually see the purpose of reading (for joy, information, or something else). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2637108 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 18:09:40 +0000 BrandNewMom 2637108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've read as many books to DD as she's ever wanted. She has literally hundreds of books. For the last two months, she's refused to read a single book and I'm dying inside.<br /> I'm a huge reader! I have three bookshelves. I read every single day. But I prefer reading on my Kindle, so all she sees is Mommy on tech. And I think it's hurting her interest level.<br /> So I'm a big ol' ball of Mommy guilt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2637102 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 17:52:57 +0000 808love 2637102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Besides reading regularly, talk about what you have read on your own or together. Make it fun to learn. Because learning by reading is an important skill, you can mention its usefulness whenever appropriate. Read print out loud in everyday settings. Exaggerate when you read the signs. Actively engage your kids where they are at. I get non fiction and fiction kids books about the same high interest topic. I model reading my own books and remind LO when I am on my phone I am reading. </p> <p>FWIW we skipped bedtime reading for a long time and still only read occasionally at night. We read during the day randomly, usually on a binge after a huge library haul and simply encouraged reading everyday things. LO picked up love for reading from both of us. I was raised by a non-reading family and LOVED to read despite everyone around me. It was my escape from reality and I learned so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2637010 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 14:38:20 +0000 Ms.Badger 2637010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, you can't. My mother is a children's librarian. We had books, we were read to constantly, my mom went out of her way to find anything we were interested in to read including magazines, comic books, books on tape, my mom reads all the time, my dad read the paper cover to cover every morning. The end result, I am a reader, my sister is not a reader, my brother is a casual reader. Just different kids, different personalities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2637002 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 14:20:49 +0000 KayKay 2637002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't force it. Both of my kids have gone through periods where they were more/less interested in books and reading. We always read books before bed (and have just recently started introducing longer, pictureless chapter books as an option to our 4.5yo -- sometimes she wants to read some of those; sometimes she wants to do short picture books), and we both read a fair amount so they see us actively enjoying it. DD2 seems to bring books to us randomly the most; DD1 is always most interested when we go to grandma's house where she has a huge stash of DH's old books, and DD1 can wrangle grandma into reading those "new" books to her all day long. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636983 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 14:05:20 +0000 caterw 2636983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read a LOT and go to the library for new stuff every week. I let DD pick anything she wants and will read it to her- we don't push certain books even if I feel like what she picked out is boring/ too advanced/ babyish so she stays engaged. We also have tons of books at home. DH and I like to read a lot so it's demonstrated as a normal behavior in our house. So far DD loves to "read" at age 3- she has her favorites memorized and will "read" to herself and tell herself the stories out loud. Hopefully she continues to love reading as she gets bigger! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636764 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 08:40:19 +0000 looch 2636764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not something that I actively think about...I read to my son, there are books all over the house, but I don't want it to be a "thing" where he doesn't want to do it and I start to feel badly or guilty about it.</p> <p>I used to read a lot more than I do currently, it's something that I would like to increase, but it's for me, if that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636754 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 08:28:59 +0000 catlady 2636754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just read all the time and keep books everywhere (ironically, we just got rid of almost all our own books since we have been using kindles more, but kids books are still all over the house). We have been reading to her since she was a tiny baby, so she doesn't remember a time when we didn't read. When she was young, we would read to her to pass the time, and these days, she asks for books constantly. I probably read 10 books to her per day at minimum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636714 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 07:37:49 +0000 LulaBee 2636714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read to my older daughter daily, even when she was in the womb. She has LOVED books from the beginning, and at age 4 will "read" in her room after we read her books at bedtime.</p> <p>My poor younger daughter is not read to daily, and it's something I'm really trying to work on. She goes to bed so much earlier! She isn't interested in sitting still for books at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636702 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 07:14:32 +0000 tequiero21 2636702@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read books daily. I'm trying to get them to site read some words. They love going to the library so we try to go as often as I'm not feeling lazy. We go to the book store and usually let them pick out and buy a book. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636696 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 06:53:42 +0000 erinbaderin 2636696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @Mamaof2, I think all you can do is read to them, let them see you reading, make it fun, and cross your fingers. We read to our kids every night and right now, at almost 3, B loves books. I hope they'll always love to read, because I do, but we'll just have to wait and see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636694 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 06:46:37 +0000 farawayyama 2636694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is only two, so time will tell. We are a family of readers though.<br /> 1. Books are everywhere. We have books in every room.<br /> 2 We have a lot of books. I buy them at garage sales, thrift stores etc. She has free access to 90% of her books.<br /> 3. I try to read in front of DD so she can see its something I enjoy too.<br /> 4. I willingly read the same books over and over to her. We read together daily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636685 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 06:29:08 +0000 honeybear 2636685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The things we do are: 1) reading a lot to him, 2) reading a lot around him, 3) picking really good books, and 4) essentially eliminating screen time. I'm quite insistent about 3 and 4. I feel like if there's an alternative that doesn't involve nearly as much effort, it's human nature to take it. I think picking good books is the most important thing we do, but it's also the hardest. </p> <p>Will those things work? Beats me. He's only 6. I don't think we'll know the verdict for at least another decade! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636684 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 06:25:27 +0000 Mamaof2 2636684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if you can raise a reader - we have read to DS his whole 8 years of life - tons of books all day everyday and he hates to read - he is required to read every night so he will read his Minecraft handbooks but he has zero interest in just picking up a book and reading for pleasure. Its just not his thing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636558 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:20:33 +0000 JennyD 2636558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a bookworm. Less after having LO but I still always have a book going on. </p> <p>We read every night to our LO (4-1/2). She loves it. Sometimes I change parts of the story and she always corrects me. We've tried a couple chapter books with some success. She's starting to connect letters with words and reading. It's fun to watch. She's very keen on it so I think she'll be a reader. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636547 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:11:40 +0000 MrsRcCar 2636547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We love books. My DH and I are huge bookworms. Our boys have always had books in their life. We don't always read before bed but we do read everyday. My boys sleep with their books and carry them everywhere. I am just continuing to try and foster the love for reading. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636544 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 21:08:40 +0000 MamaG 2636544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We read all the time. We make it fun. Books are readily available at all times. I've got a voracious reader at 5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raising-readers#post-2636539 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 20:58:00 +0000 Bao 2636539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are you doing to get your kids on the path of becoming a reader? </p> <p>Growing up I was never read to, DH was often read to. I'm a huge reader now (started after high school) and DH doesn't care to read. I really hope that our girls love to read as they grow up! </p>