Parents may be busy and somewhat distracted by the pressure of work and other demands—grandparents can take on the wonderful role of helping to build a family reading culture.
Fostering a love of books and reading is the most important gift that you can give your grandchild. It will stay with them throughout their life, guide them through good and challenging times and make them more successful learners.
As a children’s librarian, I’ve had over 30 years of experience reading to more than a quarter of a million children and their parents or caregivers in armchairs and schoolrooms, on beaches and buses, in gazebos and underneath many trees!
Reading and rhyming with babies has given me insight into what makes a little one listen, smile and laugh. Reading to a child shouldn’t “sound like medicine. I want it to sound like chocolate,” says Mem Fox, author and read-aloud advocate.
Make reading times fun and engaging! Here are my top tips and reminders for growing a reader from birth and checkout my YouTube Channel for storytimes.