Start 'em young!

I truly believe that many teen and adult readers become readers because they were read to at a young age, received books as gifts, enjoyed the ritual of bedtime stories, or were handed a library card when they left diapers behind.  There are exceptions to all of these, but those who have enjoyed reading or saw reading as a part of their lives tend to keep the reading habit going as they mature and move into adulthood.

I may have mentioned that my middle grandchild, my only granddaughter, is living with my youngest daughter and son-in-law as a foster child.  She first visited them exactly one year ago for two weeks; then she was returned to live with extended family. The day after Christmas she returned to their home again, and she has never left!  For a variety of reasons and in order to protect her safety and security, I refer to her as The Little Girl instead of by her name or any other type of identity.  No pictures of her can be shared even though we have many of her in our family collection.

Recently The Little Girl has taken to crawling up into my lap, with a book, and asking me to read to her.   She goes to the bookcase, selects one of her favorites, comes back to me, holds out the book and says "Book!  Read, Mamaw!"  She crawls up to the couch or beside me in the chair, snuggles in, and we read.

Sometimes her attention span is short than the time it takes to read each page, so I have to shift into my speed reading techniques or quick summary skills.  Other times she has to look at each picture, trace the shapes  of the animals, and name all of the colors.  It is fun to watch her sit with Papaw reading a book about zoo animals, making sounds with each page turned. 

The Little Girl will celebrate her 2nd birthday soon.  Since she wasn't with us and her family situation was rather unsettled last year at this time, this may be the first birthday party she has ever had.  I have already decided to give her two sheets for her bed, a pillow case for her pillow, and a new blanket that do NOT have John Deere tractors pictured on them.  She is using leftovers from my grandson right now.  She needs to have something a little more feminine to lay her little blond curls upon at night and to wrap around her to keep her warm.  But also on my shopping list of birthday presents for her is a few new books.  All her own.  Books that we can write HER name in.  Special books that will have special meaning for her in the years to come.

Reading habits start at a young age.  We are starting hers now.  And we will have some quality snuggling time as we look at the pictures and learn new words and sounds.