Be a Model

Reader, that is.

We all know that children love imitating adults. If a child sees an adult on the phone, taking pictures, using keys, etc. they want to do it too... hence the big market for toy phones, keys and cameras.

The same thing holds true for reading. If your child sees you doing it, they will want to do it too.

Here's a few things to ask yourself:

Is there a stack of books on your nightstand? When you want to wind down at night, do you read books or watch television?

Do you make reading look like work? Or do you read to relax?

Do you visit the library regularly? When you go, do you get a few books or a lot? Do you check out books not only for your children, but for yourself too?

Is reading the newspaper a part of your daily routine? Or do you get your news and information from the television or radio?

Do you subscribe to magazines and take time to read them when they arrive?

Do you bring reading material with you wherever you go? If there's a long wait at the doctor's office (and your children are miraculously occupied), are you reading or talking on your cell phone?

If you let your children see that reading is important to you, it will become important to them, too.

from: http://www.pbs.org/parents/booklights/