A home filled with reading material is a good way to help kids become excited readers. What kind of books should you have? Ask your kids about their interests. If they're too young to tell you, ask your local librarian for suggestions about age-appropriate books. Also, you can visit Reading BrightStart! to find book suggestions for children from birth to age 5. Here are some other tips: Keep a Variety of Reading Materials Collect board books or books with mirrors and different textures for babies. Preschoolers enjoy alphabet books, rhyming books, and picture books. Elementary-age kids enjoy fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, plus dictionaries and other reference books. Kids can understand stories they might not be able to read on their own. If a more challenging book interests your child, read it together. Younger kids can look at illustrations in books and ask questions as they follow along. Besides books, your kids might also enjoy: magazines (for kids) audio books postcards, e-mails, and text messages from relatives photo albums or scrapbooks newspapers comic books the Internet beginning reading and alphabet games on a computer/tablet magnetized alphabet letters e-readers or e-books Keep Reading Materials Handy Keep sturdy books with other toys for easy exploration. Books near the changing table and high chair can be helpful distractions for younger kids. Plastic books can even go in the bathtub. Keep books next to comfy chairs and sofas where you cuddle up so you can read after feedings and before naps. Create a Special Reading Place As your kids grow: Keep books and magazines on shelves they can reach in their favorite hangouts around the home. Make these shelves inviting and keep them organized. Place some of the books with the covers facing out so they're easy to spot. Put a basket full of books and magazines next to their favorite places to sit. Create a cozy reading corner, and encourage your kids to use it by setting up "reading corner time" each day. Make it Inviting Make sure reading areas have good lighting. Change the materials often — add seasonal books, rotate different magazines, and include books that are about topics your kids are interested in or learning about in school. Decorate the corner with your child's artwork or writing. Keep a CD or other music player nearby for audio books. Encourage Creativity Set up a writing and art center and encourage your kids to make books, posters, or collages that they decorate with their own pictures and writing. Kids love to read things they've written themselves or to share their creations with family and friends. Ask your kids to act out the story. Think About the Reading Environment Other ways to encourage your kids to read: Limit your kids' screen time (including TV, computer, smartphones, tablets, and video games) to make sure they have time for reading. Keep reading activities family-centered, and guide your child in reading activities and media. Even with today's high use of technology, you can decide how much print and how much media to allow into story time. Reading e-books doesn't have to mean giving up lap-time. Make sure to snuggle up with a story often, in whatever format. Read together. Read a book aloud or ask your child to read to you from a favorite magazine or book. Make a habit of sitting together while you each read your own books, sharing quiet time together. Back to Articles Related Articles Finding the Right Read Books make great gifts for kids. Here's how to pick one to fit a child's interests, maturity, and reading level. Read More Helping Kids Enjoy Reading For many kids, reading doesn't come easily. But these simple steps can help them become eager readers. Read More How to Pick a Great Book Reading on your own isn't like reading for school. You can pick something that's all about your interests — whether it's ancient martial arts, computers, or fashion design. Get tips on how. Read More How to Pick a Great Book to Read If you find yourself overwhelmed when choosing a book, check out these 5 simple steps to picking a book you'll like. Read More Reading Milestones This general outline describes the milestones on the road to reading and the ages at which most kids reach them. Read More Reading Resources Regardless of your child's age or reading level, almost every community has programs and resources that are helpful. Read More School-Age Readers From kindergarten through third grade, kids' ability to read will grow by leaps and bounds. Although teachers provide lots of help, parents continue to play a role in a child's reading life. Read More Everyday Reading Opportunities Finding time to read is important to developing literacy skills. And there are many easy and convenient ways to make reading a part of every day. Read More Reading Books to Babies Reading aloud to your baby stimulates developing senses, and builds listening and memory skills that can help your baby grow up to be a reader. Read More Story Time for Preschoolers Reading aloud to your preschooler is a great way to encourage learning development and to help prepare your child for independent reading down the line. Read More Toddler Reading Time Reading to toddlers lays the foundation for their independent reading later on. Here are some tips. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.