When my 1-year-old son brings me the remote and points to the TV or my 3-year-old gets that glassy look in his eyes from staring at the screen too long [1], I know we have a problem. I don't blame my kids for being obsessed with TV [2] — I am, too; it's kind of amazing! — but I would like to encourage more reading. Whether I'm reading to them or they're flipping through pictures, books offer countless benefits. Plus, I'm a huge book nerd [3], so obviously I want my kids to follow suit. Getting lost in a good book is too magical of an experience to keep to myself!

In order to encourage my kids (especially my toddler) to read more [4], I've made a few small changes in our routines that have had big payoffs. If you too want to raise a mini bibliophile, read ahead for eight easy tips that have worked wonders for me.

Read With Your Kids Daily

Get cosy on your child's bed, on the sofa, on the floor, or in the car, and read to your toddlers daily. According to a report by Reading Is Fundamental, "reading aloud presents books as sources of pleasant, valuable, and exciting experiences [5]." So by making their books come alive, your little ones will discover how much they love reading, too.

Switch Up Their Books

Reading doesn't have to be boring! Pick up new books at the library, go to a local bookstore, or order a book subscription box to keep things interesting. I personally love switching out the books my little ones can reach with books on a higher shelf. Although we aren't buying anything new, it still feels like a new experience because they haven't seen these particular books within their reaching distance in a while.

Encourage Whatever Reading Your Toddler Likes

Buy books with their favourite TV character, make simple words with blocks or bath toys, and let your child flip through that toy catalogueueue or pop-up book. It doesn't matter what they're reading, it just matters that they are finding a way to make reading fun for them!

Set Up Book Stations Throughout Your House

I used to have one bookshelf of kids' books in my boys' room, which they would never remember until they saw it right before bed. So I moved some books into their playroom — and the living room, the kitchen, my office, and the car. Once they saw the books more frequently throughout the day, my toddler and preschooler would naturally just pick one up and flip through it or bring it to me to read to them.

Play Fun Games With Books

Often, I'll read a story with my kids once, then we'll go back through and make it more interactive. I'll ask my toddler questions, like, "Is he happy or sad?," "Where is the red balloon?," or "What sound does this cow make?" It's an easy way to help kids get engaged with books in a different way.

Give Books as a Gift

Anything my kids open, they love. So if I wrap a new book and give it to them as a present, it's instantly more fun. We also make it a tradition to give a new book as part of a gift when we buy presents for friends' and family's birthdays, and my kids always open new books for Christmas. This is just one more way to remind them that books are a treasure.

Make Books a Reward

Throughout the day, I feel like I'm almost always bribing my toddler [6] or preschooler or threatening them to get them to do, well, anything. Pick up toys or you're going to timeout. Eat all your dinner and you can have a cookie. But, especially during the challenging bedtime routine, I started making books the bribe. If you brush your teeth quickly, we can read two books! Let's get out of the bath now so we have time to read! It actually has made them more motivated, and it stokes that eagerness to read at the same time.

Read Your Book in Front of Your Kids

Sometimes, parents get that magical moment when their toddlers are happily (and quietly) playing. During your break, you could do the dishes, sure, but it's more fun to dive into a mystery novel [7]. Trust me, your kids will notice. When I do this, my toddler will often grab a book of his own and crawl up on my lap. It's such a precious bonding moment — and I love that I can be a good influence on him while also getting some quality reading done myself!