Both my girls love reading. Even T2, who is only a baby. Well, practically a toddler now. I must say I worked and prayed very hard in hope that my firstborn would be a reader because as Dr Seuss says, the more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go……and so, as a new mother, I myself read up and learned about children and reading. How do I get my child to love reading?

The answer is simple really.

1. Start introducing books early.

2. Read LOTS – all kinds of books. Let your child take the lead.

3. Make reading fun. Look at pictures. Discuss the pictures. If your child wants to flip to the last page, let her.

The important thing to note is to cultivate a love for reading in your child and NOT to make your child learn HOW to read. That will come naturally once she loves books. Get her to love books first. VERY IMPORTANT.

Whenever you go to a library or a book store, allow your child to choose a book that SHE wants and is interested in, not something YOU think will be good for her. You can manipulate what she reads later on once her love for reading has been cultivated but work on making her love books first. Of course, lead by example……

Books can be one of the most engaging and powerful quality time that you could share with your kids if you know how.

Now, without even trying, my T2 loves books and will always bring her choice of books to me for reading. She already knows how to choose which books she likes and doesn’t (based on what, who knows!) and will ask me to sit and read to her. Sometimes, she would read back to me. And amazingly, when I read it wrong (as in out of the usual repetition), she will correct me.

For example, the Hubs reads this animal book to her all the time and when it comes to the lamb, he makes a Baa-Baa sound. When I read it to her yesterday, instead of saying Baa-Baa for the lamb, I bleated Mehehe-Mehehe..…..such is my knowledge of animal sounds. T2 immediately shook her head and said Baba. Too cute. And when it came to the dog, she went Wowo…..

When you read, you don’t have to read exactly what the book spells out. Use your imagination and watch for cues on what your child seems to be interested in. You are most welcomed to use your own words as long as your child is loving the story that you are telling.

Many children fail at reading because they have been pressured or just haven’t found their interest yet. For example, if a child loves cars, get him books on cars! A very good resource for reading and the world of literacy really that T1’s school recommended is Read Write Think where you can get lots of ideas and help with lesson plans. I haven’t done any of their ideas myself but would love to one day when I can find time!

Make some time to read to your children every day. It truly is one of the greatest gifts you could offer them.

**************************************************************************
Who is Mamapumpkin?
Mamapumpkin is a former Design Architect turned Multi-Million Dollar Digital Entrepreneur. She sets out to prove to all that you can have anything and everything that you want; if you have that fire of desire burning within and the drive to work hard. Even better with much love.

Mamapumpkin has not only grown corporate businesses successfully in the past and doubled her salary 5 times over 5 organisations but has grown THREE BUSINESSES to 7 FIGURES within an 8 year period. She now shows others EXACTLY HOW after retiring her own husband from employment. He is now the official dog walker, family driver, chef and THE BEST FATHER to their two girls and THE BEST HUSBAND to the woman who CHOSE HIM!

Mamapumpkin is the girl who has nothing but fights for everything including YOU. She is idealistic in her desire to put unbelievable amounts of money and extrardinary happiness into the lives of good people so we can change the world together believing in happiness for ALL. She strives to impact lives authentically wanting to reduce poverty cycles and enable quality education for all and always supports the voiceless. She believes we can all have a life of our own desires to enable real contribution into the world. But first, one needs to understand what this all means.

A beautiful life without limits.

If you wish to learn how to propel your life forward guaranteed, be brave to take action. Mamapumpkin's purpose is to build people. Her gift is to help them UNCOVER their HIDDEN GIFTS. She operates fairly and always leaves an impression. You either love her or not and she is alright either way.

She is a living testimony that women really can have a lot. Being financially and time free has enabled her to travel the world anytime, anywhere, doing anything with anyone, as she spends most of her days with her children, having fun, supporting others wherever she can. Also having fun.