Developing a love of reading

One of the most special parts of my day is “goodnight time” with each of my boys.

They are both adventurous, energetic little boys and honestly, our days can feel very busy.

Between work, school, sport, activities, dinner, washing, lunches and all the moving parts of family life, sometimes it feels like we spend most of our day rushing from one thing to the next.

And I know I am not alone in that feeling.

Having a five-year age gap between our boys means different bedtimes, which actually gives Damian and I the opportunity to create special one-on-one bedtime routines with each of them.

Now before I go any further, let me say this very honestly…There are absolutely nights where bedtime looks very different in our house.

Nights where I am completely exhausted. Days where I barely make it through the day and “goodnight time” looks more like a quick cuddle before I drag myself to the shower.

Because that is real life too!

But for the most part, I try very hard not to let anything get in the way of those special bedtime rituals with my boys.

Because somewhere among the stories, cuddles, songs and conversations, something important is happening.

Connection.

And I truly believe that before children fall in love with reading, they first fall in love with the connection that surrounds it.

Austin, who is about to turn five, is still very much at the age where he LOVES a bedtime story. Some nights we fit one in. Some nights we squeeze in two or three. And honestly, I treasure this stage so much.

There is something incredibly beautiful about slowing down together at the end of the day. Sitting side by side. Turning pages. Watching his little face light up with excitement, curiosity or laughter.

Sometimes he wants the same story over and over again. Parents, I know you know the ones. The books where you can almost recite every single word with your eyes closed, where you can't 'accidentally' skip a page, and then somehow become the very books you miss when they move on to the next stage.

And while as adults we sometimes crave variety, repetition is actually incredibly powerful for children. Re-reading stories helps children develop memory, vocabulary, comprehension, sequencing skills and confidence with language. But even more importantly, it creates familiarity, comfort and emotional security.

After story time, we turn the lights off and I sing a couple of songs. Usually Somewhere Over the Rainbow, You Are My Sunshine or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star still gets a run. And occasionally, Austin throws in a request for one of his favourite country songs. While I know and love many of them, there are definitely moments where I make up half the words and immediately get corrected.

Very confidently corrected, I might add.

And honestly, these are the moments I wish I could bottle forever. Because while reading absolutely supports literacy and learning, the deeper magic is often in the memories being created around it.

Research consistently shows that reading with children from an early age has a profound impact on their development. Reading supports:

• language development
• vocabulary
• concentration
• imagination
• emotional regulation
• memory
• communication skills and
• literacy success.

But one of the things I love most about reading is that it also develops emotional connection and empathy.

When children listen to stories, they begin exploring emotions, relationships, problem solving and perspectives beyond their own world.

Stories help children make sense of life. Through characters, challenges and adventures, children begin to understand feelings, relationships and the world around them. Books allow children to see themselves reflected back, but they also allow them to step into somebody else's shoes. And in a world that can sometimes feel incredibly fast, loud and overstimulating, reading creates something children deeply need:

Stillness.

Connection.

Presence.

One of the things I have reflected on lately is that developing a love of reading does not always begin with reading itself. It often begins with storytelling.

Long before children can decode words on a page, they are learning through songs, conversations, imagination and stories shared by the people around them.

Storytelling has existed for generations across every culture in the world. It is one of the oldest ways humans have connected, taught, comforted and passed knowledge down.

And children do not just remember the stories.

They remember the feeling.

One of the most important things I want families to know is this: You do not need to be a perfect reader or have hours of spare time to nurture a love of reading in your child. Children do not need perfection. They need presence.

Some of the simplest things can have the biggest impact, in encouraging a love of learning in your home:

• reading together regularly
• letting children choose books
• making books visible and accessible
• telling stories
• singing songs
• visiting libraries
• modelling your own enjoyment of reading and most importantly,
• making reading feel enjoyable rather than pressured.
  
  

At Sanctuary, we are incredibly passionate about creating literacy-rich environments across all our centres. You will see books woven naturally throughout our classrooms, cosy reading spaces, storytelling experiences, songs, puppetry, visual literacy and educators engaging children in meaningful conversations every single day.

But ultimately, the greatest influence on a child’s love of reading will always be relationships, because children learn best through connection.

Sometimes I wish I could record these little bedtime moments and replay them forever.

As I edge closer to my mid-forties (OMG, I know!!) and move into this season of life where time somehow feels both incredibly fast and incredibly precious, I find myself wanting to hold onto everything.

The songs.
The chats.
The bedtime cuddles.
The story requests.
Even the interruptions and endless questions.

Because I know these seasons do not last forever.

And maybe that is why reading and storytelling matter so much.

Not just because they help children become readers, but because they create moments of connection that children carry with them long after the story ends.

This is one ritual I intend to hold onto for as long as my boys will let me.

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