CJ is my youngest child. He is three years old and he loves to be read to. He and I spent about one hour tonight  reading and re-reading his books. In our home, Cj always sees someone reading and naturally as a curious and precocious three year old, he also wants to read like everyone else.  He sees me reading magazines, his mother reading and writing blogs, and his sisters reading novels and anime. I am quite certain that our reading time together will surely make a positive impact on his reading skills.

Like his siblings, when he gets older CJ will never be pressured to pick up a book and read because he will do so willingly. He will read for the love and enjoyment of reading because he is constantly exposed to reading.

As an educator parents always ask me to give them advice on how to improve their child’s reading skills. My first answer that I always give is not to buy more books, to get tutoring, or to decrease television and increase reading time, but rather for them, the parents, to read. I inform them that if their child sees them reading consistently, then their child will mimick thier behavior. I tell them that based on my experience, students who love to read or have high reading comprehension are usually students who come from a home that have parents who also enjoy reading.

Like my father before me, the love for reading has been passed on to my children. CJ’s love for reading will give him a lot of mileage once he starts school. He will enjoy school because he will be prepared to face any academic challenges that will come his way.