Reading Corners that Rock!

You don’t have to have a huge house to make a reading corner— transform a hallway into an inviting place to stop and read some books.

Create a casual, but peaceful reading corner in a loft, like Soule Mama. Add a plush rug and pillow to make it a comfy place to spend half the day.

Transform a corner of any room into a far away land with this diy tee-pee. Or if you would rather buy one, check out this awesome one.

Floor to ceiling bookshelves are a great way to show your children how important reading is. What a powerful visual statement!

Get resourceful and turn inexpensive rain gutters into book shelves.

As the kids get older, a reading area can be more sophisticated like this one. I love all the drawers to store books and magazines. I hope heaven has something as beautiful as this.

Keep it simple and just use an oversized floor cushion to create a space to read and relax. Stack a pile of books beside it and watch your little ones flip through the pages.

A mobile reading room is a pretty cool idea! I might even say genius, actually. Especially since it can function as multiple things (I could totally see this being used for a lemonade stand on a hot summer day!).

Convert an awkward section of a room into a reading area by adding fun curtains, bookshelves and a bean bag. This whole project was done for under $80!

Transform a closet into a cozy reading room like Pretty Handy Girl did while her husband and the kids were camping.

Learn how to create an irresistible reading corner for your child. Need some playroom inspiration? Check out this post.

Small house living with kids

Tell us a little about you and your family.
I have two adorable kids–Brylee (4) and Ian (1)—and one ruggedly handsome husband, Daniel, who jokes that all he does is make cute babies. Daniel supports me staying home with our kids and encourages me in my writing. He’s sending me on a long weekend with my girl friends while he takes time off work to take care of the kids—seriously, he’s incredible! Brylee is very girly (which she doesn’t get from me) and her gorgeous curls will make you jealous. Ian is more observant and has to warm up to people before being himself around them (which he does get from me) and his big eyes will melt your heart.

They are all so fun, and are always teaching me so much about life and faith and what really matters.

What brought you to Lincoln, Nebraska?
My husband and I attended college in Nebraska and got married and had our daughter here. When Daniel got his first teaching job in Florida, we were excited about that adventure. We made great friends, had play dates at the beach, and welcomed our baby boy there. We enjoyed our two years, but were equally excited to return “home” to Nebraska. Now that we’re back we both agree this really is home.

What do you love about your 995 square foot apartment?
Our small 2-bedroom apartment is easier to clean and decorate and keep an eye on the kids. It’s simple and makes me feel content and safe. It reminds me that I don’t have to keep up with the Joneses to be happy. I also love the large closets in both bedrooms, space for a dining table, and large windows that flood in natural light. We chose it especially for it’s location–Daniel walks to work, Brylee’s preschool is across the road, and the view out our front windows is a park with a sprawling grassy area.

Where do you get your inspiration from when decorating a room?
I love neutrals and green, and the simple beauty of the outdoors–especially a midwest field and the beach. I know, those are an unlikely combo, but I’ve found lots of inspiration that make me think of both. I enjoy browsing Apartment Therapy, Design*Sponge and DecorPad for ideas.

Have any tips for keeping the kids entertained in a small space?
Entertaining kids in a small space is a little easier than I thought it would be. They are always entertaining themselves with non-toy items–turning a large blanket and chairs into a fort, playing drums with spoons and items from the pantry, pretending with things from recycling. We also created spaces for them throughout the house, like the table and displayed art in the dining area, bins of their books on the shelf in the living room, and they each have their own ottoman full of toys under the TV shelf. This encourages them to move throughout the apartment and change scenery throughout the day. Living in a small space also encourages us to get outside and explore other places–whether we’re running errands, going to the park, checking out the library, or visiting the local children’s museum, we try to get out everyday.

Your daughter and son share a room– how has that been as far as sleeping at night and also decorating.
I love that they are getting to share a room! I know this won’t last forever, but it has been great seeing how sharing a room has encouraged their bonding and relating with others. They have been great when it’s time to sleep. Ian goes to bed before Brylee, so he is often asleep when we quietly go in to put Brylee to bed. Even if they go to bed at the same time, they usually don’t keep each other awake. Even so, giggling with your sibling as you fall asleep is just one of many special childhood memories. Thankfully we seem to have two heavy sleepers–they have taken turns in the past waking up at night, but rarely wake the other one.

Decorating their individual spaces was fun. I collected inspiration for boy/girl shared rooms and many have one theme or color scheme throughout the room–I knew I wanted to do something a little different. Brylee is very much a girly girl so I wanted her side of the room to stay girly, and alternately wanted a boy-inspired theme on Ian’s side. I’m no decorator, so I can’t say whether this really works for the flow or cohesiveness of the room as a whole, but I love how the details are specific to each child.

I love the framed nature art in the kids room! Can you tell me about it?
I am in no way girly, so the details and colors for Ian were much more natural for me to create. The framed tree cutouts were inspired by the book “We Planted a Tree” using scrapbook paper in the colors of his room to make circle trees. The larger square frame holds green and white fabric I got from IKEA, with a leaf pattern I cut out of black paper.

Is that a chore chart in your master bedroom? 
Actually, no. That’s a corkboard calendar where I track blogging ideas–for my own blog (Beginner Beans) and for another blog I contribute to (Veggie Meal-Maker). The chore chart hangs on our fridge where Brylee uses flower magnets I made to check off the things as she does them.

Your home feels very balanced between being for grown up and also kid-friendly. Do you have any tips to help others achieve this same balance?
It helps that I feel like I’m personally in between being grown up and kid-friendly.

Adding kid-specific zones outside of their bedroom makes them feel like this is their apartment too. Kids’ finger paintings, when framed can look like a quality piece of abstract artwork. Also, giving the kids hidden storage for books and toys in the living room makes clean-up easy and keeps the whole house from looking like a playroom when toys are not in use. Storage ottomans, a drawer or bins are great solutions.

You are also a green lovin’ momma, like myself… Have any tips that you use around the home that could inspire other parents?
I use vinegar and baking soda for whatever possible—cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen, boosting detergent for washing diapers, and even to replace shampoo and conditioner. But, I’ve learned the greenest thing we do around the house is learning to be content and living simple lives. This means we use up products before we buy new, we repurpose when we can, and we’re happy with what we have rather than always searching for new, bigger or better. We sometimes struggle with comparisons, but we’re always happier when we simply enjoy our side of the fence.

Written by contributor Malia Hollowell of Playdough to Plato

Encouraging children to spend more time reading can be as simple as creating a special spot for them to enjoy doing it. As you begin planning a designated reading corner in your home, here are four key details for you to consider:

Comfort

Do your children prefer lying on the floor when they read or would they rather curl up in a comfortable chair? Depending on their likings, add cushy floor pillows, a just right sized recliner or an overstuffed bean bag and motivate your little ones to settle in for a while. I love Pottery Barn’s Anywhere Chairs and Land of Nod has amazing floor cushions. If you are hoping to limit your budget on this project, try this trick: Use dog cushions as floor pillows. They are often less expensive and are very easy to clean.

Marketing

One way that stores draw customers in is by creating beautiful window displays. The incredibly effective marketing technique is a perfect strategy for reading corners too. Display several books about your children’s favorite interests or upcoming holidays. Rotate the selection every few days to keep your children coming back for more.

Lighting

It may seem obvious, but having plenty of light in a reading nook helps children see the words and illustrations in books. Place the spot by a window or add a lamp to ensure the space is bright enough for your kids to enjoy every little detail as they read.

Creativity

One of my favorite things about child-friendly reading areas is their limitless possibility. Options include making your own tent, building a loft and hanging wooden tubes. Reading nooks can be as outside the box as your mind will take you.

Malia shares quick, motivating reading activities on Playdough to Plato’s site. Check it out and then “like” P to P’s Facebook page. For more inspiring reading spaces, visit Malia’s favorite reading spaces on Pinterest.

Join the Conversation

What part of your family’s reading corner do you love most? Share in the comments.

Today is my birthday and I wanted to share a very special home tour. Laura Medley is a close friend of mine— we became friends in 2008 when our sons were just blobs on blankets and continued our friendship over walks, coffee, cooking dates and lots of park dates. This past year, she went through a divorce and became a single mother, a title she never fathomed. Yet despite some very dark days, she has made the sun shine all around her. She is proof that you can make it through something so heart-wrenching and come out on the other side inspired and alive. Was it easy? No. But she is doing it— and she is doing it beautifully. Laura has transitioned from a stay-at-home mom into a working mom (she teaches preschool), all the while making a beautiful new home for herself and her four year-old son in South Pasadena, CA.

Laura has always been thrifty (see why we get along?), but is especially budget conscious now that she is supporting her little family on a preschool teachers’ salary. She and Anthony share a two-bedroom home in a quaint triplex where they are grateful to have a backyard and a little space for gardening! Nearly everything in her home is secondhand- from garage sales, thrift stores, eBay and Craigslist. She loves to incorporate pieces of her family’s past- like a rug and table cloth in her son’s play area were handmade by her great grandma. I hope you enjoy her home as much as I do!

HOME TOUR with Laura Medley

Living Room/Office:
Recently I decided we would become a TV free home. While I have always been conscious of what my son was watching and we haven’t had television stations for the last year (just DVD’s), I decided it would be best to go all the way, and I am so glad we did! Removing the TV from our living space felt so refreshing! The day I took it out to the garage, I stayed up half the night rearranging furniture- all of a sudden there were limitless and creative ways to set up our space!

Ever since I took a child development course focusing on art in early education, I have made special efforts to keep quality art supplies accessible and appealing for Anthony. I am so happy that he chooses to spend so much time creating art. He likes to sit at this vintage desk- something I found at a local Salvation Army for $10 (score!) The white ikea bookshelves I bought new- opting to haul the pieces upstairs and build it right where I wanted it. The shelving is easily adjustable, making it simple to change displays and rearrange materials. The blue box with all the drawers was something I salvaged from the trash- I spray painted it and will soon be adding labels to turn it into an ABC box- with each drawer designated for a letter of the alphabet.

This side table was a $5 garage sale find that has served multiple uses in our house. Right now it holds our nature basket where we display treasures that we find on our nature walks. The green chair is a favorite craigslist find of mine- it’s the perfect small scale size and is so comfy! That ottoman you see is Pottery Barn, but it was a Craigslist steal!

One of the best Craigslist deals I found was the $10 cedar chest. I don’t mind the scratches and the leftover initials, the inside is in perfect condition and smells wonderful! Right now, I have Anthony’s dollhouse on top of it so it is at a more accessible height for him to play with. I found this dollhouse in a small children’s consignment shop with furniture included for $35! It was a well received Christmas present for my love!

The white bookcase is once again a Craigslist find and was less than $10. As you can see I am a fan of using baskets for storage- I find the texture of baskets to be much more appealing than the look of plastic.

My desk was something I bartered for on Craigslist- when I went to buy this little vintage table, the woman found out during our conversation that I sew. She asked me to sew her two small curtains out of vintage linens in exchange for the table— I was sold.

I enjoy sewing and I love vintage and antique quilts. The Grandmothers’ Flower Garden displayed on my couch is one I scored on Ebay on one of those rare occasions when all the other bidders must have been sleeping! Underneath that beige slipcover is a purple and gold monstrosity. Slipcovers are awesome.

Dining Room:
The dining set and vintage tea cart were found on Craigslist in Pasadena. As you can see I am a fan of white and light wood furniture! These are a couple of my favorite pieces and I love them even more knowing that I spent less than $150 on both of them together! Those unique tiered baskets I picked up at a local stationary store that was going out of business.

I like having Anthony’s play kitchen in the dining room where he plays with it while I cook in the kitchen. (He often helps me cook real food as well!)

We try to live simply and make everyday moments special in our home. For us this means that we pick herbs and wildflowers for our vases, we light candles at meal times and we use placemats and cloth napkins at the table.

Anthony’s Bedroom:
The doorway to Anthony’s room is covered by a curtain of colorful ribbons (from that stationary store I mentioned earlier!) We love this simple decoration- especially when the late afternoon sun streams through and adds an extra dose of magic to his space. Anthony has loved this easel from Ikea- he primarily uses it to paint. (by the way if you have baby food jars- keep them! There are endless possibilities including using them as small paint cups)

We like to play games at our house and this shelving unit from the stationary store is a perfect storage solution.

A few months ago, I noticed Anthony wasn’t spending a lot of time in his room— opting to bring things from his room out to the living room to play. I realized even if we weren’t playing together he wanted to play near me so I brought in a little chair where I could read or knit comfortably in his room while he played. The mother and child print was a gift from parents and is one of my favorite pieces of art in our home.

My Bedroom/Sewing Room:
This little white table I found on Craigslist and it is the perfect size for a sewing table. When I am working on a project I usually set up a sturdy folding table too- where I can iron and cut fabric. I like to frame art that Anthony makes around the house— this is a picture he drew of the two of us.

Call for submissions! Family Sponge is looking for families to share their home on our site. Please email us at hello (at) familysponge.com if you are interested.

Albums: I make an annual photo book through Shutterfly to capture the best pics of the year.

Wall Displays: We have been collecting frames at yard sales and thrift stores and finally had enough to make a photo wall in our new home. Now we just need to print all the pics we want to put in them.

Mail them: I incorporate my favorite pics into my annual Christmas card that I design myself and send to family and friends. Lots of people actually keep it on the wall or fridge all year, which makes me happy.

Sadly, that is the extent of what we have done with the thousands of photos. Yet, I have plans and dreams for them, as you can see below from my Pinterest board of inspiration. What do you think?

I love how easy it it to swap out pics on this board. * image from Scrap Book Spaces

Chalkboard wall mixed with photos?! Oh, the things you could do! * Check out the tutorial here

I am pretty sure I fell in love with this in an old Pottery Barn catalogue— it’s perfect and I want it all. Maybe in my next house? * image from Style Files

Monochromatic photos allow you to use a bunch of random photos in one space without it turning into complete chaos.

This makes me want to explore all white frames for the kids room.
* image from Decor Chick

ANY IDEAS ON DISPLAYING PHOTOS?

What do you do with your family photos? Please share your ideas and link to websites if you have references. I would love for this to turn into resource page that we can all come back to when we want inspiration.

Family Sponge is excited to kick off HOME TOUR with the Hansard Family in Wesley Chapel, FL. Ryan and Jen have been on a crazy adventure since last June when they sold their home in California and left for Florida. They drove across the country with their two young kids in an F-150 truck towing a trailer of their cherished belongings behind them. The Hansards share a three-bedroom townhouse with their two hilarious kids (Jackson, 4, and Clare, 2). An incredible thing about their home is that 99% of their furniture, toys, and home decor is second hand. Craigslist, the Salvation Army and garage sales played major roles in this Tampa Bay home.



HOME TOUR by Jen Hansard
Hi there and welcome to our home. We moved in a month ago and have worked extremely hard to make it feel like a home. We are strong believers in “reduce, reuse and recycle” and try to apply it to our home as much as possible. We tend to shop at thrift stores and garage sales— and love a good Craigslist deal (read Craigslist 101). Take a look around and I hope you find inspiration in what you see.

Living room: I bought the blue Pottery Barn couch on Craigslist in Los Angeles and knew it would be hard to ever find another one like it (that I could afford). So we managed to fit it in our trailer and dragged it across country with us. Two months ago, we were at the local Salvation Army and I spotted the beige couch— exact same style and brand as our blue one. So we bought it on the spot for $200. The pillows and coffee table are also Craigslist deals. The large wool floral rug I scored at a garage sale in California for $45. Deals like this make me do the happy dance.

My favorite thing about our living room, or I guess my house in particular, is that we don’t own a TV. We are a TV-free family and when it comes to decorating it’s much easier to not have to work around a big black box. The wood coasters on the coffee table are handmade by Ryan and I. We had a large tree branch fall down in our yard and we decided to make coasters out of them. The picture frame wall is something I have been dreaming about for a while. I have been collecting unique frames at thrift stores and garage sales over the years. Once we moved into this townhouse I was ready to bring them out and let the fun begin. We are still figuring out what photos to put in some of them, which explains the blank frames and a sideways rooster.

I love this coffee table because each drawer has a label slot on it and I can store the kids puzzles, board games and some preschool learning tools in them. This keeps my living room from being overrun with toys— which is very important for my sanity.

Dining Room: We picked up our dining room table at the Salvation Army and the cedar chest at a storage unit sale. This is technically supposed to be a sitting room, but we swapped it with our “official dining room” because it was more open and flowed better with our layout. And the Melissa and Doug art easel in the background is awesome! The reviews don’t lie—it’s amazing…especially with two kids.

Playroom: Ryan and I love watching our kids play together, so we created a space for them downstairs where we spend most of our time. We turned our dining room into the kids area. The craft table was a Craigslist find. We use it for drawing, play dough, board games, crafts and even for meals when we have lots of friends over. The black Pottery Barn entertainment center is another Craigslist find— we store all of our crafts, books and games in it. Where a TV is supposed to go, we display kids books and keep our tabletop paper holder, which I got at Ikea and highly recommend it.

Shoe bin: We try to be a shoe-free home and this usually creates a pileup of shoes right by the front door. I have struggled every place we move to create the perfect spot for shoes. This is definitely not perfect, but it works for now. We each get our own cubby and the bottom two are for socks and hats. Boots stay to the side and our running shoes stay in the garage because they are typically caked in the nasty Florida mud. If you have any shoe storage ideas to share, I would love to see them!

Loft: The loft is Ryan’s office space. He uses it for researching, reading and all the other jobs of a pastor. The desk was another Craigslist deal— I love how wide and deep it is. Since Ryan has mountains of books, we created a bookshelf on the back of his desk for his most-used books. Check out the clown bookends we scored at the thrift store as well— we love them!

We refinished this Craigslist bookshelf in a dark blue to add some color to the room. The chair was calling my name at a small backwoods thrift store. It even rocks back— which makes it the perfect reading chair.

And for the overflow of books, we crammed them in this additional bookshelf that we got at a thrift store for $5. The glass jars and painting frames are also second-hand treasures. The wood duck is actually a gift from my good friend, Kerry, that I met two years ago through Craigslist.

Kid’s bedroom: We just got the kids this bunk bed set (another Craigslist deal). It opened up the floor area so they can play with their train tracks (another Craigslist buy), building blocks and Duplos (we bought most of our duplos on Ebay). The side table is actually meant for a bathroom, but we decided it’s new home was in the kid’s room (and yes, it was a thrift store find).

Costume corner: Dress up is one of my fondest memories as a child. I asked Ryan to make a costume stand for me, since he is my handyman. He used sprinkler pipes and an old wood door we had in our yard. We spray painted it blue to conceal the plumber’s vibe going on. The mirror was actually a freebie (the people we bought the bunk beds from on Craigslist gave it to us). We hung it very low so the kids can see themselves when they play dress up. FYI: The day after Halloween is the day to stockpile your costume corner. Target has them discounted 50% off.

We made this raft as a family last summer with some sticks we collected around our yard. We actually launched it into a pond and watched it float across it. The kids loved it and I decided to mount it to the wall— like a trophy commemorating our adventure.

Our bedroom: We keep books above our bed because all of our bookshelves are crammed full of books and we had to get creative. The bed, nightstand and lamp were all Craigslist purchases in Los Angeles. I love our bed because it is low to the ground and our 2-year old can easily climb up on it and snuggle with us.

Home office: Welcome to Hansard Studio! This is my home office— where I talk with clients, edit photos, design websites, sketch out logos and write articles for Family Sponge. It’s also located in my bedroom (just to the right of our bed). So I guess it’s actually a “bedside office”. Ryan refinished this desk (bought from the Salvation Army) and we found this funky chair at a thrift store as well. The seat cushion of the chair lifts up and my kids like to hide treasures in here for me to find. So sweet!

The bulletin board began as a frame we found in the trash. Seriously. I spray painted it and then bought cork squares at Lowe’s to attach to a wood panel. Then we mounted the board into the frame and called it good. I use the board for creative inspiration and to hang our children’s lovely artwork. I have been considering using it as a vision board too.

We use this computer to watch Netflix movies some nights (remember our bed is just to the left of the desk). I turned a candle holder into my office supply jar for easy accessibility. The strange tablet on my desk is what I use instead of a mouse. It’s an art thing and I love it! Much more ergonomical since I spend a decent amount of time on the computer. Oh, and we even buy our computers second-hand (refurbished) through Apple. I told you, we truly have this second-hand thing down.

Have a home you want to share with us?

Family Sponge is excited to start our monthly home tour. We are accepting submissions now and would love to show others a glimpse inside your family’s life. Email us at hello (at) familysponge.com for more information.

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With colder, windier and harsher weather upon us, it’s time to find ways to bring the playground indoors. As tempting as it is to put on a movie for kids to pass the afternoon rut, why not try creating a space in your home just for them to entertain themselves? It can be their exploration area— a place where creativity and inspiration flow. Here are a few ideas that rocked our world here at Family Sponge.

Adventure Seekers: Tired of the wasted closet space? Why not ditch the storage space all together and create a super fun play area complete with a ladder. It’s like an indoor treehouse— minus the bugs, leaves and spider webs. You could even add curtains to the top so they can close it off and use it as a stage for performances. Now that is hours of quality  entertainment.

{ image above:  published on Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats }

Reading Nook: Designate an area that has little foot traffic as the reading corner. Make some fun rain gutter bookshelves (yes, I am serious), add a plush rug and throw down some bean bag, blankets and favorite stuffed animals for the kids to cuddle up with. Here’s to literacy!

{ image above:  published on Design Sponge }

Imagination Station: Allow your children’s imagination go wild in this playroom. Props such as the simple teepee to the wooden ride-on truck allow children to create their own world for the afternoon. I also love the little table in the background— it’s perfect for crafts or afternoon tea time. (FYI: the teepee is $116 on Amazon with free shipping.)

{ image above:  published on Remodelista}

Why not? If you have a house large enough for a swing, by all means do it! And please invite my family over for a weekly dinner so we can all take turns on it.
 

Costume Corner: Create a space within any room for dress up. Make sure you have a mirror just the right size for your little one to see their “new identity”. My talented husband made this costume hanger out of an old wood door and pvc pipe.

Speak your mind…

Have you ever done anything out of the ordinary to your kids bedroom or playroom?

What’s to love about literature? As the seasons change I find my family and I spending more time indoors. I like to create the perfect cozy corner in my home to get lost in a stellar book and sip a good cup of chai tea. How do I balance working from home, raising a four year old and find the time to read a book at leisure?

The answer comes in my first step to developing your child’s love for reading and all things literacy, followed by many more ideas to lead your child to a life-long love for literature.

* Image above from Hamptontoes

Ten Important Steps to Raising an Emergent Reader

1. Create a reading book nook: Children love a cozy place to sit when playing and reading. So create an inviting book nook or corner with book shelves, bean bags and pillows. Shelves are an important component of the child’s environment and need to be accessible to your child’s height. Book shelves do not have to be expensive; they can be as simple as boards and bricks or rain gutters! Show the importance of books by displaying books around the entire home in baskets. It is a good idea to rotate books once a month. Display books as you would see in a bookstore and allow books to be seen by their cover and not their spine.

2. Provide a print-rich environment: Surround your children with a literature rich environment filled with books, newspapers, comic books, birthday cards, post cards, magazines (subscribe to a child-friendly one like National Wildlife Federation, National Geographic Kids, Highlights, Time for Kids). Giving children access to print materials is associated with positive behavioral, educational, and psychological outcomes.

3. Schedule a reading hour: – Read simutaneouesly as a family has worked wonders for our family. So while you dive into your latest novel, set the timer for an hour and let your child engage in as many books and reading materials as they want. Let them know it’s quiet reading hour (start with shorter time periods in the beginning). The benefits of your child witnessing you reading, makes you an invaluable role model. There is no greater gift you can give your children than to help them discover a life-long love for literature.

4. Reading wish list: Make reading a fun adventure! Make frequent trips to your local library and bookstore. Explain the difference between buying and borrowing books. Studies reveal that kids develop a positive attitude towards reading and learning when they get to borrow or own their own books. My daughter has a wish list and I make sure to make a note of the books she likes at the bookstore. Then we look for that same book in the library and check it out for free! When you visit the library, make sure to pick-up your library’s recommended reading lists and an updated list of Newberry Award and Caldecott Award books. This is a great way to get inspired and start adding to your reading wish list.

5. Encourage reading aloud: Reading aloud to your child helps them learn the rhythm and pace of written and spoken language. A fun exercise when reading to your child is to break up the sentences that your child can immediately repeat. This gives your child a chance to memorize a favorite book in small bits. Then when your child is ready, he or she will be reading aloud to you!

6. Read bedtime stories together: During bedtime, read stories aloud that are slightly above your child’s reading level. Allow your child to pick out at least one book per night at bedtime (we let our daughter pick out three stories). Alternate between mom, dad, grandparents, aunties, uncles. Let your child see that all of the adults she cares about enjoy reading to her too. What makes my heart melt is when both my husband and I squeeze into our daughter’s bed to read stories together as a whole family. Both parent and child can learn to enjoy the quiet intimacy that comes with taking time to stop during our busy days to unhurriedly share a story.

7. Introduce different reading mediums: Think of all the ways you personally consume literature. Audio books are one of the mediums that adds another dimension to reading. One of my favorite audio books for children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar: board book & CD read by Eric Carle himself. It’s such a delight! My daughter listens in anticipation for the tone to signal that it’s time to turn the page. There are also free audio stories for kids from StoryNory. You can also allow your child to experience a story on a smartphone or open a Word Doc and let them type away on your computer. I promise your child will love to play on your toys. And they get the added benefit of enhancing their understanding of literacy.

8. Answer your child’s questions through research: When your child asks you a question have them help you find the answer in a book or on-line. If your child likes the question, “Why?” Explore and satisfy their curiosity by teaching your child how to find the answers. You can say, “That’s a good question, let’s look in this book.” If you don’t have a book with the answer, you can look for the answer on the internet, or better yet, add books on that subject of inquiry to your library wish list.

9. Engage in literacy learning activities: Time spent engaged in literacy activities with your child has emotional benefits as well. Play a board game and read the instructions; explore the alphabet and the sounds the letters make; cut and paste pictures onto pages and have your child dictate the story; rhyme words and make-up silly songs; when reading a familiar book, let your child say the last word in the sentence.

10. Provide writing tools: Literacy includes supporting early writing by making sure that your child has access to paper, crayons, pencils, pens and markers. Introduce each writing tool gradually, so that your child has a clear understanding of how to use and care for their writing materials. I like to keep a spiral notebook and pen in my car for long trips – it provides hours of entertainment. A fun one to introduce to your child is an Easel or even a small dry erase board. Let them write, erase and re-write!

Speak Your Mind…

We want to hear about your budding book lovers, comment and share your child’s reading routine in your home.

We love when we see real moms using resources we love and share. These rain gutters (yes, those are rain gutters you are looking at) are obviously an inexpensive way to display those beautiful book covers. Check out Playroom inspiration where we first introduced rain gutter book shelves.

“I recently put these up in our home and it is INCREDIBLE to see how much my children are reading now. It really does work. If they can SEE the cover they are way more likely to pick it up. I rotate new books onto the shelves every few days and immediately all three girls grab one and sit down to look at it. I am so happy with them. Total project cost me about $24″ – Christy from Wesley Chapel, Florida

I was beyond excited when I heard that a real mom actually put these rain gutter book shelves to use! The smile in the little girl’s face is priceless. But bookshelves for $24? You can’t beat that. I just cannot emphasize enough that setting a solid foundation for the love of books is truly the best gift you can give anyone.

The Best Gift

Need gift giving ideas for kids? Books are an invaluable gift to give to any child. And you can always add new and interesting titles to a child’s personal library collection.

Here are just a few you can click on and purchase on Amazon that are in Christy’s picture above:

A bedtime classic…

Speak Your Mind…

Have an inexpensive playroom design tip? Please share it with us!