Kids That Love To Read Are Not Born, They Are Made On The Laps Of Parents

2nd April is International Children’s Book Day, and I’d like to share the happiness I get from bringing up a reader in my son.

Something wonderful has just happened and I can’t wait to share my happiness. As a mother of boys I would always think inspite of doing everything that is required to be a friend to my boys, there would be something which they may not want to discuss with me.

But today, my son who is 17 came to me and started discussing the character and the story of the book he was reading, which I thought he would never talk to me about. We were just talking and since I had already read that book I was giving my opinion. We argued, we agreed and most importantly we enjoyed it. Both of us forgot, for some time, that we were mom and son. We were just two friends discussing the book that we both loved.

It took me back to the time when I would not talk about some books with my dad even though I shared everything with my dad. I think deep down in my heart I had some apprehensions that my son would also do the same thing with me.

I think, what changed from the time of my dad and I, to my son and I, is that we always read together.

From the time he was one year old I used to show him pictures and read, and every night I read books to him. Fairytales, Jataka Tales, bedtime stories, mythological stories.

When he started reading, we both used to read the same book. The day he finished reading the page before I did, he got rewarded with a new book.

We moved to Hardy Boys, Secret Seven, Famous Five and Sherlock Holmes. We enjoyed every book.

Then came the phase of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. I read those books too so I could talk to him about them.

We still read together, different books though, and talk to each other if we are intrigued, fascinated, or disgusted with something in the book.

We love shopping, yes, shopping for books. He never complains when I spend hours in a bookstore.

I am glad I read and read to him, and when he uses rich, descriptive engaging vocabulary while speaking or writing, my heart swells, because I know that it is because of his reading habits.

So, I think, children are made readers on the laps of their parents. If you want your kids to read, then read amazing books  for them or with them every single night.

P. S. We are going to go shopping some new books today, I think I deserve it.

A version of this was first published here.

Image source: shutterstock

lalitha

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