Whether your child is a baby, a preschooler, or old enough to read independently, finding time to read is important to developing literacy skills. And there are many easy and convenient ways to make reading a part of every day — even when it's tough to find time to sit down with a book.

Finding the Reading Moments

Car trips, errands, and waits in checkout lines and the doctor's office are all opportunities for reading. Keep books or magazines in your car, diaper bag, or backpack and pull them out whenever you're going to be in one place for a while. Even if you can't finish a book, read a few pages or share a few of the pictures and talk about them. Encourage older kids to bring favorite books and magazines along wherever you go.

And take advantage of other reading moments throughout your day:

• in the morning, before either breakfast or getting dressed
• after a meal at the table
• potty time
• bedtime
• bath time (with plastic, waterproof books)

Reading opportunities are everywhere you go. Read signs aloud to your baby while you're driving. Ask your preschooler to "read" pictures on boxes at the store and tell you about them. And have older kids tell you what's on the shopping list.

Even routine tasks around the house, like cooking, can provide reading moments. With younger kids, read recipes aloud; ask older children to help by telling you how much flour to measure. Give your child a catalogue to read while you look at the mail. Ask relatives to send your child letters or e-mail, and read them together.

Even when you're trying to get things done, you can encourage reading. If your child says "I'm bored!" when you're sweeping, for instance, suggest reading from a favorite book aloud to you while you work. Younger kids can tell you about the pictures in their favorite books.

And make sure kids get some time to spend quietly with books, even if it means bypassing or cutting back on other activities, like time in front of the TV or playing video games.

Most important, be a reader yourself. Kids who see their parents reading are likely to join them and become readers, too!

From the health and parenting
experts at KidsHealth.org.