Raising a happy reader

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Want to raise a happy reader? Place books in every room of your home.

My sisters and I grew up in a home full of books. Books weren’t confined to bookshelves, though I’m sure my Mama would have preferred that to prevent clutter! There were books on bedside tables. On the coffee table. Crammed into drawers (of all rooms). In the garage. In the bathroom. There were books in every room. Since each family member has completely different taste from the other, the spectrum of reading at home was wide and colorful. Our home was a bookworm’s haven.

The omnipresence of books at home was key to raising book lovers. I carried that with me raising Timmy. He enjoys reading, so his books and magazines are all over the house!

Books in every room at home have helped us grow a little bookworm.

Once again, books aren’t confined to bookshelves. His books in the above pic have found their home on a dining room bench. He has books in the bedroom. In the den. In the kitchen. In the living room. In the family hall.

The ubiquity of his books at home have been really key to getting him to engage in reading well. There’s always some sort of reading material within arm’s reach. Once he was looking for something to read in the living room and reached for an O magazine instead of his books. Yey for widening his world of reading!

Reading time
Book bins in the play area

Lolo
Reading with Nonno

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Pre-breakfast reading

What's behind the flaps?
Bedtime reading

Reading time.
Book Clutter – the only clutter allowed at home!

Feeling loving
Before a day out

His love for reading has gone beyond the home. We always carry a book or two in our bags when we go out, so there’s always something for our little bookworm.

Timmy reads
While waiting for his lunch order

Comic book reader at 2
At the mall

Traffic-causing tot. Timmy grabbed a book from the shelf, plopped down on the floor, then started reading, oblivious to the crowd around him. (Manila Int'l Book Fair)
Traffic-causing tot. He grabbed a book from the shelf, plopped down on the floor, then started reading, oblivious to the crowd around him. Taken at the Manila Book Fair.

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At a bookstore

Encourage reading at home by having books within sight at all times. Before you know it, you’ll be raising a home full of happy bookworms.

C’mon and share! Did you grow up in a home full of books? How did you develop your love for reading?

15 Comments on Raising a happy reader

  1. Faye
    February 28, 2013 at 2:14 pm (11 years ago)

    same as you. grew up in a home filled with books. my parents never pushed for us to read but when you see books everywhere it’s really impossible for you not to pick one and read. i’m trying to do the same for my kid but my husband is a neat-freak so i’m still working on a compromise. maybe when the daughter outgrows her other toys then he might just allow books to be cluttered all over the house :)
    Faye´s last blog post ..Monday Take-away!

    Reply
    • Toni
      March 3, 2013 at 2:34 pm (11 years ago)

      Faye, that compromise sounds good! You can also dedicate one room at home where books can be placed anywhere! At least the book clutter is controlled.

      Reply
  2. Ma. Teresa Grech Quiatchon Racal
    February 28, 2013 at 2:45 pm (11 years ago)

    hi!!! i did grew up surrounded by books as well. I looove reading… among my 3 daughters, it is only the eldest one who has the love of reading. and only recently that I fell in love with READING… every time I go to a bookstore, I palpitate. hahaha!!! it is like a candy store for me. like this post… :)
    Ma. Teresa Grech Quiatchon Racal´s last blog post ..Happy Hearts Day!!! (2013)

    Reply
    • Toni
      March 3, 2013 at 2:33 pm (11 years ago)

      Grech Ooooh I can relate to what you said! I get all giddy when I enter bookstores too, especially if it’s my first time to visit a bookstore. 😀

      Reply
  3. hazel
    February 28, 2013 at 8:46 pm (11 years ago)

    once again, i learn something new. i always ask maia to clean up after herself and put everything back in the shelves. needless to say, cleaning up will only to toys from now on. :)
    hazel´s last blog post ..Paperman

    Reply
    • Toni
      March 3, 2013 at 2:33 pm (11 years ago)

      Hi Hazel! For as long we’re not tripping over the books it’s okay. Haha!

      Reply
  4. Martine | WAHM. Wife. Blogging Belle.
    March 1, 2013 at 12:23 am (11 years ago)

    Our kids are SO alike! Vito devours books. (When he was a baby, he LITERALLY devoured them.)
    We always buy a book when we’re at the bookstore, because he always wants to read, read, read. We have so many classics, which we read daily, and then we get books for homeschool. I’m glad he likes them more than iPad and TV!

    Reply
    • Toni
      March 3, 2013 at 2:27 pm (11 years ago)

      Literally devoured! Haha, Martine, I know what you mean. Timmy’s had his share of book bites. Omnomnom!

      Reply
  5. Giselle
    March 1, 2013 at 8:55 am (11 years ago)

    Reading was one thing I wanted my kids to love. Just like you, we had books and magazines everywhere, including the car and the baby bag. When the kids read “Inkheart”, it reminded them of our house :-) When we ran out of shelf space, we got e-readers for us and for the kids. I used to pick out books for them to read, but now they have their own preferences. But while having books around is good, I think it is just as important for them to see their parents read (and enjoy reading).

    Reply
    • Toni
      March 3, 2013 at 2:26 pm (11 years ago)

      Giselle, that’s a great point. Seeing others read also serves as great inspiration for kids to read. One of my favorite moments growing up is just having the entire family in one room reading his/her own book. The family that reads together, stays together? :)

      Reply
  6. Karen
    March 10, 2013 at 1:26 pm (11 years ago)

    This is such a great idea! I was called a bookworm as a kid, and I would love to have my boy become an avid reader as well. Right now he’s not patient enough to sit through a whole story, but this post reminded me to be more patient with him and to keep reading to him whenever I can.
    Karen´s last blog post ..Bugaboo Bee Striped Canopy

    Reply
    • Toni
      March 11, 2013 at 4:38 pm (11 years ago)

      Hi Karen! Timmy’s 3 and sometimes he can’t sit through a whole book. He wants to speed read and look through the pictures. Other times he’s more patient, relishing every image on each page before flipping to the next page. They’ll learn how to savor reading in their own time! For now I guess we just have to expose them to books so later on they embrace the love for reading themselves.

      Reply

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