That Ole Book Magic

In observing my students over the years, I've discovered that avid readers acquire their love of reading at home, from their parents. No teacher can pass along a passion for books the way a loving mother or father can. My best readers remember cozy bedtime stories, sharing books with friends and siblings, and--perhaps most important--the freedom and encouragement to read whatever they wanted to.

What follows are some tips for nurturing an early love of reading. These ideas are offered as a jumping-off point; all children are different, and what works for one child may not work for another. The key thing to remember is that anything to do with reading and writing needs to be fun. If you tune into your child's interests and passions, you'll be able to develop your own strategies for giving him a lifelong love of reading--in my view, the best gift we parents can give our children.

Mary Leonhardt is a high school English teacher and the author of 99 WAYS TO GET KIDS TO LOVE READING and other books. For more reading and writing tips, visit her Keeping Kids Reading and Writing Web site.