Since Jamaine was 6 months old, I’ve bought her several ABC and fairy tale board books that we read during playtime. I really want her to grow up with a healthy reading habit.

I’ve always been an avid reader and this is something I want to pass down to my daughters. Thankfully, Jamaine seems to like her books and even pretends to read them herself.

Sometimes though the books take a back seat when there are several other toys competing for her attention

But I found a good idea that could encourage her to like reading even more: publish a story book with her as the lead character.

Personalized children’s books are a great way to preserve childhood memories as well as to encourage a child’s creativity.

Sites like Kids Personally has a couple of personalized photo books, activity books, and novels for children. They can print your child’s photo and name on the cover and inside pages.

But a great way to extend this idea is to have your child create her own story. Let her think of her own adventures, challenges and happy ending. This will help her to harness her imagination and develop story – telling skills.

You can also let your child map out her dreams and goals for the future in the form of a story. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and what she dreams of doing in the future.

If you’re feeling extra creative, take your own photos to visualize the story too. For example, your child wants to be a reporter in the future, dress her in a mini suit, give her a microphone and photograph her somewhere in the city as if she’s covering a news story.

This will take a bit more time and effort but when you see your child happily reading her own story book, I’m pretty sure it would all be worth it.

More than this, the story book could also serve as a Vision Book that your child can look at from time to time so she can focus on her dreams and goals.

Have you got other great ideas to cultivate a child’s reading habit?

Tagged as: Baby, children's books, Parenting