HOW TO MAKE A GREAT READING SPOT FOR YOUR KIDS

Jennifer Avis — There is no doubt about it: we want our children to read. We want them to expand their minds and engage in something that is good for their well being. We know reading will help answer their curious questions about the world. It will enhance their creativity, while possibly sparking interests in art or writing. They will learn something new and become interested in things they never thought they would. They will become more familiar with how to write and speak sentences. Oh! And since it is summer, they HAVE to read!
A very important thing to remember is that reading is for enjoyment. In order to raise a life learner-life lover of reading, positive, early experiences with reading are vital.
If you create a special space for your children’s reading, it may boost their chances of flipping through more and more pages. A reading space can say a lot about your child if it is filled with the things they love. It can be a corner or a seat by a window or you can gear their whole room toward a wonderful place to read. Considering the many benefits of reading, creating a special place adds encouragement and stresses its importance. For any age!

Fill a Basket
Grab a large basket so you can fill it with your child’s favorite books. You might also add colorful magazines or newspapers to the reading bin or a journal or notebook so they can record the things they read, or draw pictures of their favorite findings.

Pick a Throne
Every reader is a king or queen. It is important to choose a favorite sitting spot to flip through pages of a book. Maybe it is a chair, or maybe a bed, but maybe it’s a fancy carpet too. It is all about your child! Let them pick a throne and place it in their reading space so they can go back to it time and time again. It will be the place where they rule all the time.

Do It Up
Maybe you have an extra bookshelf around the house that fits into your child’s space. Maybe there is extra room on a wall for a bulletin board, or a word wall, or a chalkboard, or even a cool poster. You can even add a tent, or a tee-pee, or a fancy curtain for extra coziness. If your space is big enough, why not add a table and chairs, too? This would create a place for writing, drawing, coloring, and collaborative projects among siblings. Then you could have bins filled with art supplies as well. Your kids’ reading space could turn into a center for exploring or even a homework spot. Some more things to add are a tape recorder, a CD player for soft music, and a great light.

Celebrate It!
Now that you have the basics for a fantastic reading space, add some of their favorite things to decorate it. Look around for bright and meaningful objects. Maybe it will be a photo book of you and your family. Maybe it’s a piece of framed artwork your child has made. It could be a trinket, or a knick-knack, or even a stuffed animal. If they love it the most, then their reading space needs it the most. Don’t forget though: the most important thing to add to the reading space is THEM!

Things to Add to your Reading Space
Books, magazines, newspapers
Puppet show
Art supplies (crayons, colored pencils, pencils, markers, glue, and scissors)
Journals, notebooks, drawing paper, construction paper
Carpet square, chair, couch or beanbag
Lamp
Globe or map
Dictionary
Costume chest
Reading chart poster (record of things read)
Illustration binder (your very own picture book)
Author binder (your very own stories)
Word binder (fill it with all the words you can read or know the meaning of)
A place for your name (a plaque, a poster, or your name framed)
Audio equipment (recorder, CD player)
Clock
Calendar
Encyclopedias
Laminator, book binder
Scrapbooking materials
Computer (the Internet)
Alphabet strip
Pillow or blanket

Literature Checklist
Picture books
Chapter Books
Drawing Books
Easy Readers
ABC books
Audio books on tape/CD
Rhyme
Math
Maps
Science
Social Studies
Fiction
Nonfiction
Mystery
Poetry
Fantasy
Favorite Authors
Favorite Illustrators
Holidays
Magazines
Newspapers

Things To Do In Your Library Space
Brainstorm an idea
Research a topic
Plan, write and illustrate a story
Start a journal
Do art
Read for enjoyment
Invent something
Learn something new
Become an expert on a topic
Read about characters
Explore
Create
Break down the settings and main ideas in stories
Sketch
Share your space with someone else
Revise and edit your own works
Organize
Study
Relax

Check out more from Jennifer Avia at ladyinthehouse.net!