Which only serves to remind me how far we are from modern civilization…and our favorite store – Chapters.

My daughter, 11 years old as I write this, after having spent an hour browsing the floor to ceiling shelves, sighs on her way to the cash register "Oh, I just love books."

As a parent who loves to read you’ll know that little else could make me beam than a statement like that uttered from her lips!

I don’t think it’s genetic. I think her love of reading comes from being home-schooled for all those years, not being allowed to prop herself in front of the television set and having to learn to amuse herself. And I pray this will be a key point to her success as a young adult – not looking for external resources to entertain…

Starting Young with Book Reading

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
Mary Ann, age 3

When she was just 6 days old I read her first book to her – Chicken Soup with Rice – on the advice of my dear friend and retired Grade 1 school teacher Linda Hart. I only just stopped reading books to her last year. She didn’t ask me to, I just became too busy to read her a chapter or two at night.

She reads enough on her own anyway. And the friends that she’s selected are avid readers as well. They’re forever swapping books or deciding whose turn it is to buy the next in the Gossip Girls series. (These girls are very mature for their age.)

Which is why I’ve found myself spending more and more time at the library and the used section of bookstores with her. Buying new books for both of us all the time can eat up our household income and home schooling budget very quickly!

If your child isn’t a natural reader but you recognize the immense value of reading you might like to look for outside help to get them more involved with books. My husband is a prime example of why some kids need outside help and inspiration. He remembers his mother standing over his shoulder forcing him to struggle through every word and always being made to feel embarassed by his struggle. To this day he still doesn’t read – even though his wife is an author!

I truly believe that instilling the love of reading is the greatest gift you could ever give your child. It opens up a life and new world to them between every dust jacket. It teaches them to amuse themselves and hopefully keeps them away from drugs, sex and other mind-altering substances.

Somehow I’ve moved away from my topic here…

If you’re looking for home schooling books, I hope some of the inexpensive resources and links below will help.

Laura Childs

Related Posts

• What ‘Stuff’ Do I Need to Start Home Schooling?
• Planning to Home School