We’re too busy to read. How can we fit it into our schedule?

• Put a book in the shopping cart with your child.
• Read books during bath time.
• Play an audio recording of a book at bedtime or in the car.
• Leave books in the car.
• Carry a book in your bag.

We don’t have books in our house. Where can we get them?

• Borrow books from the public library or school library.
• Visit a used bookstore.
• Go to garage sales or flea markets.

I’m too tired to read to my children. How can we still read during the day?

• Read just one book to your child – snuggle in and relax!
• Older children can read to younger children.
• Play an audio recording of a story.

Our house is always noisy! How can we find quiet space to read?

• Read during meal times.
• Involve the entire family.
• Turn off the TV, radio, and computer.
• Take a book to the park or sit outside.
• Go for a walk, sing, and talk.

My children are restless. What can I do to make reading a fun activity for them?

• Read to them while they are playing.
• Make games: finger plays, action songs.
• Read when they are sleepy, especially before nap & bedtime.
• Read a book your child can act out.
• Read a shorter book.

How can I keep my childs attention while reading?

• Start with a book on tape and make faces to help “tell” the story.
• Smile, frown, growl, and make animal sounds.
• Make a unique sound to signal the turning of the page.
• Use a high and low voice to match what’s happening in the book.

How do I read to my child if my child has special needs?

• Use books with Braille for children with vision impairment.
• Read adaptive learning books for children with learning disabilities.
• Play an audio recording of a book for the learning or vision impaired.
• Read books made from materials for sensory stimulation.

How do I read to my child if I have special needs?

• Act out what the characters may be thinking or feeling.
• Make up a story that goes with the pictures and ask questions.
• Let your child tell the story, or let them guess what happens next.
• Pretend to not understand the story and let your child be the “teacher.”
• Take turns describing each picture.

How do I choose the best books for my child?

• See our booklists.
• Visit websites that publish booklists, like the International Reading Association (reading.org) or the American Library Association (ala.org).
• Get recommendations from a librarian.
• Find book lists by age group at the library or at bookstores.

Is it okay to read the same book over and over?

Young children love repetition. It’s okay to reread a favorite book. The ideal combination of books is: one favorite, one familiar, one new.

How do I read to my children if I don’t speak English?

• Read a book in your native language.
• Read a bilingual book.
• Tell a story from the pictures in a book.
• Tell your own story (no book needed!).
• Have siblings or relatives read.
• Play an audio recording so that you can learn together.
• Create a book together.

How do I read to my children if they’re different ages?

• Each child chooses one book.
• Let the older child read to the younger child.
• Children of all ages enjoy picture books!

Is it okay to read to my child if I read with an accent?

Of course. The important thing is that you are sharing this time with your child and introducing them to a love of reading.