Before children can read for themselves, we have the opportunity to introduce them to books. Through this time, children learn the value of quiet time – time away from electronics, time spent in quiet reflection. Settings and plots of books stimulate the child’s imagination so that he or she builds a mind picture of where and what is happening. Unfortunately, videos, television, and computers provide those things so often that the participant isn’t challenged or stimulated to “imagine.”

Then as children learn to “sound out” words for themselves, the world is truly “an open book” just as the adage states. Consider road trips with books in a basket in the back seat. Get a visual of your child in the back yard hammock, settled in with a book from the Best Seller list, asking himself, “What is that character doing now? I wonder what he looks like…” Or maybe you’d like to snuggle up close with your darling and read a little before bedtime kisses.