It is a dream of most parents to raise children who are lifelong readers. There are many things you can do to help this dream become realized. It’s a long journey that begins when your child is first born and continues well into teenage years and beyond.

Perhaps the most crucial way you can help your child’s love of reading is to expose them to books at a very early age. Even when your children are tiny babies, try to read to them every day. Carve time out of your daily schedule to read. Including story time into the nighttime ritual is a great way to ensure daily reading. But don’t feel as though you need to limit your reading to only one specific time each day. Have books available throughout your day. Allow time for your child to explore books independently. Preverbal babies love to flip through books on their own. They sometimes will mimic reading by babbling along with the book. Board books are particularly great for babies to have on hand to explore. As they start to learn to speak, they love to say the names of objects they see on the page. All of this pre-reading work helps them gain interest and confidence in reading.

As they come of school age, resist the urge to push them to learn to read. You want to create an environment in your home where your child loves books and reading. If you try to get your child to read before he is truly ready, he could very well start to dislike the act of reading. This is such a crucial moment in the life of a reader. If a child feels too much pressure and frustration at this early reading stage, it could turn him off reading forever. Children learn to read at different paces. Just because your child’s friend is reading doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your child. The best thing you can do is to keep up his excitement about books and reading. (If you have serious concerns about your child’s reading progress, check in with his teacher.)

Once your child has begun reading, many parents figure they no longer should read aloud at home. This is a common misconception. You absolutely should still read aloud to your child for as long as she’ll let you. There is still so much to be gained from reading aloud to her. One major advantage is that you can read her books that are at an advanced reading level-ones whose plots are more interesting than her own reading level could allow. Reading aloud also helps your child further internalize what it sounds like to be a fluent reader. Listening to a proficient reader gives your child a better sense of how she should read aloud. Furthermore, it helps maintain the special magic that only books can bring to a child’s imagination.

Make reading a part of your family’s life. Model lifelong reading to your child. It is very powerful for your child to see you reading on a daily basis. Those families that have a “Quiet Book Time” part of their daily schedule reap the rewards of children who love to read. In this age of technology, make sure at least part of your daily routine is one that is unplugged. Demonstrate the practice of reading outside the home. Carry a book for you and your child when traveling, waiting for appointments, or just relaxing in your backyard. Let them see that reading isn’t confined to one specific area of your life but rather it is something that can permeate all areas.

Yes, it takes effort to help your child love to read throughout his years. But what a valuable gift you are sharing with him! What better way to spend quality time with your child than sharing a love of books?