This is the first thing every child should be taught. Show your child how to hold the book properly, turn the pages without crumpling them. Discourage your child from throwing books, stepping on them, rolling them, folding pages and writing or scribbling on book pages.

Managing a Bookshelf

Allow your child to take out one book at a time from the shelf, complete it and then keep it back at the same place before taking another book.

Reading Hour at Home

Fix a reading hour at home, whether in morning or evening. Remember, this should be a free and relaxed time for the child. Slowly get the child into fixed time hour to study by the time the child is five years old.

Introducing New Books

Take the child to nearby good bookshops. Introduce her to various sections in the bookshop. Let the child explore books, sit there and read some books.

Set a monthly budget and shop for books on weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis as it may suit both of you. Tell her your budget and let her choose a book within the budget. Children love reading what they have already known.

Libraries

Take membership of libraries, wherever there is a children's section. British Council Libraries in most big cities of the country have a children's section which is well equipped. Then there are district and state libraries as well which are equally good.

Libraries often have story telling sessions on weekends and some new book reading sessions as well on regular intervals.

Author: Dr. Anita Dagar

(The author is a freelance writer)