Take your children to faraway places by making reading interesting

Children love story time. They get to hear about faraway places and use their imagination. But what if you have a child who won’t sit still or gets bored?

Here are a few ways you can get your toddler or preschooler interested in reading:

Make reading a part of your daily routine

Whether it’s before your child goes to bed or when she wakes up from a nap, having a dedicated time each day will help flourish your child’s love for reading. It also gives you a special time to bond with your child.

“If you read every day before bedtime, children will learn that this is the routine,” said Allison Moceri, a lead teacher at Oakland Family Services’ Children’s Learning Center in Pontiac. “Having a routine helps children tremendously to mentally focus, which is essential for when they go to school.”

Visit your local Library

If you don’t have a wide selection of children’s books at home, visit your local library. You can check out books free with a library card, and your child can select the books that interest her.

“I go to the library all the time and bring in the books to share with the children in my class,” Moceri said. “They love the rotation of books. It keeps them interested. If you have access to a library near you, I encourage parents to do this. Your child can take ownership of picking their own books!”

Read a variety of books

Toddlers and preschoolers enjoy all types of books. Pictures books, especially with animals, are a big hit along with rhyming books, fairy tales and board books. They also like interactive books with songs with such favorites as “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to help get their wiggles out. If your child isn’t quite ready for a book with a lot of words, try creating an “All About Me” book filled with family photos and pictures of their favorite things.

“It’s important to introduce all types of books to children so they can grasp the meanings of the stories and explore the stories by using their creativity and imagination,” Moceri said.

Have fun while reading

Bring stories to life by changing your voice for different characters. You also can get your child’s attention by using facial expression to show the characters’ emotions or making sound effects to draw attention to specific words in the book.

Most importantly, remember to have fun while you explore the world of books with your child!