Fall Into Good Reading Habits With Babies and Toddlers

It always feels like Fall should really be the start of a new year. We slowly come out of our slump from the lazy days of summer play and feel energized by the crisp cool air. The stores full of bright new crayons and empty notebooks make all of us want to learn something new. What a great time to start new reading habits for the months to come. Make a Fall commitment to pick three times during the day that you can read or tell a story to your children.

• Is breakfast hectic? Maybe while they are dawdling you can tease them with a story plot of a familiar book -- and promise to read it before bed.
• Pack a few books for the park. Have a story and a snack before heading home.
• Plan your trip to the library when you plan other outings. That way before and after you visit the pumpkin patch or apple orchard you can share some good tales that will start up lots of discussion about the event.
• Pick a good series of books for bathtime -- the anticipation will be high and there will be no more bathtime fussing.

Now is also a great time to take advantage of cozy pj storytimes and new programs starting at the library. They might even let you play with those new crayons!