Reading begins with families. The ideal time to begin reading with children is during infancy. From as early as six weeks old, children should own books and be read to often. As infants become preschoolers, read to them every day and take them to storytelling hours or reading activities at the local library or children's center. Just when you think you can recite Green Eggs and Ham from memory, read it again.
Favorite stories make reading a pleasure that children look forward to each day.
As you read to your child, remember to read aloud with expression, move your finger from word to word, and draw the child's attention to the pictures. When children get older, take turns reading paragraphs or pages to each other. Surround children with a reading-rich environment. Parents can make every room in the house a reading zone with little effort. In the kitchen, put up alphabet refrigerator magnets.