Fun activities for early readers

It's never too early to get your child excited about books. Here are some different ways to make reading fun for your early reader.

Make an alphabet poster

If your child likes to look through books and magazines on their own and seems interested in the names of letters, they may be ready to start learning the basics of reading. On a piece of poster board draw each letter, then help your child go through magazines and catalogs to find pictures of things that begin with each letter. Have your child cut them out and glue them down. This is a great hands-on way to learn the alphabet. (Don't force it, though – if they don't seem interested, you're better off waiting until they're ready.)

Go to story time at the library or a bookstore

Nothing beats listening to a professional storyteller – especially one who gets the audience up from their seats and acting out part of the story. Going to story hour at the library or a bookstore is a fun outing. As a bonus, you may pick up a few tips to jazz up your own read-aloud sessions.

Play dress-up and act out a book

Dressing up like the characters in your child's favorite book can really bring reading to life. Invite some of your child's friends over and make it a playdate.

Make finger puppets to go with a story

Cut the fingers off some old gloves and use fabric markers to draw the characters. You can also roll felt or paper for the body and then glue on eyes, noses, smiles, and hair. If your art skills could use some work, make color copies from the book, cut out the characters' faces, and glue them onto the glove fingers, rolled paper, or felt. Once you make the puppets, you and your child can use them to help tell a story.

Build a reading fort

In your child's bedroom, drape blankets over a couple of chairs to create a tent. Grab a book and a flashlight and climb in with your child for story time in the dark. One caution: Keep the stories light and fun. This is no time for anything scary or serious.

Serve a meal from a book

Use food coloring to make green eggs and ham, try to re-create parts of the Grinch's Christmas feast, or make your own batch of porridge for Goldilocks and the Three Bears. You can even get a basket and fill it with goodies for Little Red Riding Hood to take to Grandmother's house.

Have a reading picnic

Take your favorite food and your favorite books to the park. You'll reinforce the idea that reading can be fun anywhere. Pack books about picnics, like We're Going on a Picnic! or Teddy Bears' Picnic.

Throw a party with a book theme

Read over your child's favorite books and think about what elements would work as a party theme. Can you decorate the house like a jungle to represent Where the Wild Things Are? Can you collect hats and host a party about the Cat in the Hat? Whatever you come up with, you'll be sure to get your child and their friends excited about books.

Set a family reading time

For 15 or 20 minutes a night, have everyone in the house read a story together. If friends or neighbors are visiting, ask them to participate. Show your child that reading is fun for the whole family.

Start a new reading ritual

Think of new ways to add reading into your day together. Ideas to try: Read a book at breakfast or at bath time. Try reading your child awake in the morning. Altering the times you read makes reading spontaneous and fun, and you'll encourage your child to read whenever and wherever they're in the mood.

Join the summer book club at your library

Most libraries arrange summer programs with read-aloud sessions for younger children and lists of recommended books for each age group. Your child will be able to share the joy of books with other kids.

Listen to audiobooks

You can check out audiobooks from the library for free, buy them at your local bookstore, or use a digital streaming service. Kids love listening to someone new tell them a story, and, depending on their reading level, they can follow along in their own books.

Sing a book instead of reading it

You can make this game even more fun by altering your own singing voice – try to mimic an opera singer or a country star. You'll both end up in a fit of giggles.

Read a book that's also a movie

Read the story together, then watch the movie. Your child will love seeing characters they already know from a storybook up on the big screen.

Make a blank counting or alphabet book

Staple together some plain white or light-colored paper. Put a number or letter on each page and ask your child to draw a corresponding picture. Or make an alphabet book in which each page shows one letter of your child's name. Ask your child to make drawings of things that begin with each letter. (If this doesn't seem like fun for your child, they're probably not ready yet.)

Turn a book into art

Make a color copy of your child's favorite picture from a book and frame it for their bedroom, or have it put on a T-shirt.

Buy a big book

Teaching supply stores sell giant books for teachers to use in the classroom. They're great for group reads because all the kids can see the pictures, but your child will love the oversized pictures during story time at home, too.

Illustrate a song

Write down the words to your child's favorite song and have your child draw pictures to go with each verse. Then sing the song together.

Write a book of "my favorite things"

Staple together ten blank pages and ask your child to think of that many favorite things. Help with ideas. What's your favorite food? Who's your best friend? What's your favorite book? Write one thing on each page and have your child draw a picture to go with it.

Get a library card in your child's name

Having their own library card will give your child access to an exciting world of new books and reading activities. Go the library together and visit the checkout counter to apply for a library card. If your child knows how to spell their own name, have them write it down on the application.

Give out book dollars

If you don't want to use real money, you can draw your own. Dole out the cash for chores or other good deeds at home. When your child earns ten or 15, take a trip to the bookstore and let them spend the money.

Go to a book signing party

Popular children's authors often make appearances at bookstores to sign books and meet fans. Check online, as well as in local papers and on bulletin boards at bookstores to find out who's coming next.

Read a recipe and cook the dish together

Start with an illustrated children's cookbook so your child can see how the dish might turn out. Read the recipe to your child while they follow along. Making the food will teach your child that books provide useful information.

Write captions to favorite pictures

Get out some photos or a photo album and go through each picture one by one, asking your child to describe what's going on, or if they're in them, how they felt or what they were doing. Then write the story on sticky notes that you place on the pictures.

Imagine what happens next

With your child, make up a sequel to a favorite book. Write it down and have your child draw pictures.

Copy your child's favorite book into a blank journal

Then let your child draw a new picture for each page of the story.

Visit your child's favorite author's website

Some great ones to try: The website of Jan BrettOpens a new window, illustrator of Hedgie's Surprise and other stories, the site for Eric CarleOpens a new window, best known as the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and SeussvilleOpens a new window, a great destination for Dr. Seuss lovers.

Create a reading nook

Turn a cozy area of your home into a "reading zone," complete with blankets, a reading light, and maybe a beanbag chair or pillows on the floor.