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Imagine your toddler curled up beside you with a book, giggling at the antics of talking animals, daring heroes, or captivating mysteries.
Reading time isn’t just about learning words and stories; it’s a chance to create lasting memories and connect with your child on a deeper level.
While it may seem daunting and time-consuming, it’s a worthy investment that opens doors to endless possibilities, ignites imagination, and lays the foundation for lifelong learning.
But how do you nurture this love in your child? In this article, we’ll discuss practical tips and playful strategies that will make reading an enriching and engaging experience for your child.
1. Make it a Habit
Having your child sit on your lap with a book wide open, eager to learn or be immersed in the story, enjoying a great time with the characters, and becoming pals with them is beautiful, but what is even more lovely is the bond they enjoy and the sense of security they feel in your arms as the story unfolds. 
Children are fascinated by every image on each page, and regular reading time creates a calming routine that doesn’t have to be only at bedtime. A bath-time story or a story after coming back from school can also do the trick.
2. Follow their Lead
It is important to try everything when choosing books to read. In doing so, you find that your toddler will make her own choices from time to time. Follow their pace and desire to make reading times more interesting and inclusive.
3. Record Loved Ones Reading
Imagine your toddler listening to grandpa or grandma read her favorite story at bedtime. This can do the magic and make them enjoy the activity as you both participate by listening and relishing the moment.
4. Repetition is Key
To make a lasting impact on toddlers, there must be some sort of repetitions. As a parent, you mustn’t get tired of reading your toddler “The Cinderella Story” almost every night.
By repeating the same story, you teach them to learn and expose their minds to their unique world of imagination and creativity.
5. Make Storytelling Fun
When reading to your child, you may take on the role of each character in the story, growling like a bear, singing rhymes, or cooing like a cock.
Children generally enjoy drama, and this will make you and your child laugh, smile, and sing together as each story unfolds.
6. Be Expressive
Read out words everywhere and make it a habit to point at words and read them out. You could point at the traffic signs like “STOP” and read them out to your kids, or you could read out other words at the mall, train station, or park.
Soon enough, it will become the norm to point out words too and when they do, give them hugs or a loving squeeze to encourage them.
7. Show them by Doing it
Children will most often pick up interest in what they see their parents do.
If they observe that there are so many books in the house and you love reading, they will naturally pick interest too. This is a more effective way to make your children read than to follow a routine.
In Conclusion,
Do not worry if your child won’t sit still through a read-to-me session; you could just leaf through the pages and let their minds stay captivated by the pictures with them for a few seconds.
The next day, you could read a page or two to them before they run off and get busy with their activities. Some children will generally show more interest in physical exercises and may respond best to non-book-related activities.
The saying ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ couldn’t be truer when it comes to children
Read this article to explore the importance of play in childhood development .
