Building a Book Burrow
Every child needs a special space in their home to read — where books are easily found and cherished. Instead of running around searching for Llama Llama Red Pajama, you can be a cool dad or mama, no drama.
Also, having an organized reading space communicates some fundamental concepts:
Reading is important in our home
Reading is for YOU and US
Reading is fun!
Here are some simple strategies for creating different “book burrows” in your home. You may have one or several of these reading spaces, depending on what works best for your family.
A Cozy Corner
I love snuggling up with my son while we read his favorite books. Blankets, pillows, or a cozy chair next to a bookshelf do wonders. Make sure that the books are in easy reach for your child. If your child isn’t reading fluently yet, you might also consider magazine-rack style shelves that display the book covers. You’ll need enough books to keep your child interested, but too many may overwhelm or distract them.
Below, an alternate book shelf in my son’s bedroom:
A Transportable Book Bin
When I taught 2nd grade, my students used these portable book boxes. They carried them to different areas in the classroom during reading time. You can find them at the dollar store or online in plastic and cardboard versions. Your child may also enjoy decorating them with stickers. This is a great cost-effective option with very little work for you!
A Library Book Bin
You might just want to a large bin in your living room or a common family space. A friend of mine fills a communal bin with library books that her children pick out together when they visit the library. It’s fun to share, easy to keep track of, and part of a routine the children love.
A Comfy Bed
At night, we read with my son on his bed. To make it fun and help him get sleepier faster, we used a hand-held night-light. You can keep books on a dresser nearby or in a box under the bed for easy sliding. Otherwise, we tend to loose books under the bed where only the dust bunnies can read them 🙂
An Outdoor Oasis
This summer, the outdoors may be a much better escape! Although I’m specifically focusing book spaces where we can store our books, there’s nothing like fresh air. Check out these suggestions for summer reading spaces from Scholastic: https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/raise-a-reader-blog/kids-summer-reading-space.html
Developmental Considerations
It helps to remember how children’s brains work, too. For any kind of book space to be successful, here are some key tips:
Every child needs choices — they need to feel like it’s THEIR space. Let your child create the space with your guidance. It can be as simple as your child choosing where to put their books on the shelf or decorating their book bin with stickers. Or maybe they find their reading spot in the backyard without your help. If your child is actively participating, they’ll care.
Set expectations & keep them. Children thrive with structure and predictability. Decide how often your child uses the space (once a day is a good goal) and teach them that their books stay there. Show your child how to put books away and keep the covers from getting bent or folded. Consistent and simple expectations create success. You might need to practice together for a time (depending on your child’s age, it may take days or weeks) but after the habit forms, your child should only need occasional reminders.
But…keep it fun. As much as you can, keep reading light-hearted. Kids sense when you’re dreading something. Read aloud a book you enjoy, modeling what it’s like to be swept into a good story. Switch out new books to keep the space exciting. Let your child pick out books they like. Don’t stress if the reading routine gets skipped sometimes. Just get back to it when you can. Maybe your child is a reluctant reader or an avid one. Everybody is on their own reading journey and that’s okay. Ask a librarian or teacher for help when you need it to.
I’d enjoy hearing from you! What do reading spaces look like in your home?Questions and comments welcome.
Stay tuned for the upcoming post on choosing Just-Right books.
