Setting up for success with reading

If you want to help make a reader then you'll want to make sure you've got some comfortable places to read. When the kids are small that place is probably your lap - or the lap of you spouse, or older brother or sister, or grandparent, or beloved babysitter. You get the picture - any loving lap will do.

But as the kids get older you'll want to ensure the following: easy access to books and comfortable seating with good lighting.

Easy Access to Books
When we had three kids ages four and under I put all the board books on the very bottom shelf of a built-in bookshelf. It was great because the kids all knew where it was and they were able to get books for themselves. But once our youngest became mobile it seemed I spent more time picking up books from the shelf than reading to him. All that meant was I put up with it for a time but ultimately decided on on some reorganization in the form of book baskets scattered around the house.

Any basket will do as long as it is sturdy and big enough for several books. When I was teaching I once scored on a dozen Easter baskets at 10 cents apiece. My classroom looked like the Easter Bunny was about to make an appearance at any moment, but hey, I was teaching in a Catholic school.

Two other favorite book holders are wooden egg crates and wicker baskets. You can find egg crates at garage sales or antique stores for just a few dollars apiece and my very favorite wicker baskets come from Michael's - again for just a few dollars a piece.

Once I have a basket, I start filling it with books. I usually have one basket for seasonal books that the kids and I read together and another filled with random picture books from the library. Keeping the library books in the basket serves two purposes: one, easy access for small hands and two, I know where all the library books are when it's time to return them. Finally, I have a basket with books on tape or CD for the kids. That basket is obviously kept next to the stereo system.

Comfortable Seating & Good Lighting
At my highschool we had one hour of silent reading each week. The silent reading hour moved from period to period throughout the school year. My favorite time for it was second period because that happened to be band. What it meant was that we didn't have to sit in hard desks for the entire time but we could go anywhere in the cavernous bandroom and flop down on the floor to read for an entire 50 minutes. It was wonderful.

Think of your house like that - where would kids find it most comfortable to read? And don't just limit yourself to a couch or chair - what other places might they find desirable? In our home we've got the couch, Big Papa's chair (a stuffed armchair with an ottoman, the 2nd floor landing windowseat, a floor recliner chair, a lazy-boy, and, of course, beds. Where do I most often find kids reading? On the floor with their head on the dog's back. (Oh, did I forget to mention that spot?!)

Actually, I most often find them on the couch or Big Papa's chair. They are usually curled up with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate - sometimes they even have a little car pillow in their laps to hold the book up a bit higher. There's a lamp nearby that often is not turned on, but as I walk by I just turn it on.

What about small children - where should they read? Again, I'd go for a couch or overstuffed chair - it usually works to just put a book in the child's hand and a few more beside them on the chair. And then stay nearby so you can listen to the stories they tell from the pictures.

As far as audiobooks go - I found them to be wonderful tool as I prepared supper. I fashioned a floor cushion out of foam filler from a fabric store, a remnant of upholstry fabric and a bit of duct tape. The cushion was big enough for one preschooler and a toddler to sit on and lean against the wall. Sophie, the elder child, was in charge of starting up the tape player and holding the books and turning the pages while Lucy sat beside her and looked on. John, meanwhile, hung out in the swing or bouncy seat and listened to the story at the same time. I could cook and once in a while look over my shoulder at the kids, smiling at the readers they were becoming.

To Think About
What spaces do you have that might work for a reading nook? How are your books stored? Is there a way to make it easier for your children to access them? How might you do that - with minimal time and cost? What unique ways do you have as far as storing books or setting up reading spaces with your kids? I'm sure we'd all love to hear them.