If you're a parent, grandparent, school teacher, day care provider, or pretty much anyone that cares about a particular child, there are a few things that are always on your mind.  When it comes to that precious child, the mantra is: safety, nutrition, and education.  Right? Right! 

We baby-proof our homes with multitudes of gadgets, make sure there are bandages within reach, buy anti-bacterial everything.  We give gummy vitamins, force them to consume calcium even when it seems like going to war, compare food labels, and zone in on products that have lots of vitamins.  And when it comes to education, practically from day one, we know that reading is key.  We read to them before they can speak.  Some of us read to them before they can hold their own heads up!  It has been seen that kids who read at home score better in school, and kids who love to read have comparatively higher IQs.

So how do you promote literacy and get your child excited about reading and eventually writing?  You make it super fun and rewarding.  If it's a chore, forget about it.  You have to make it a comfortable, inviting experience to look forward to.

To create a reading environment that will lure children away from the TV and into a book, we have 12 tips on how to help your child read:

1. Designate a special time. Consider a half-hour, perhaps after dinner when you are cleaning up, to be reading time.  Or, after the bath, teeth are brushed, and pj's are on.  Try to make it part of your daily routine, so your child knows that it's his special time.  Give it a name! It's Billy Book Time!  It's Katie Reading Time!

2. Choose a special spot in your home. Make it the best little reading corner imaginable.  It should be a permanent set up if possible.

3.  Provide adequate light.  A nearby window is perfect but should be supplemented. Choose a lamp that can be adjusted to shine light directly above the reading area.  Make sure there isn't too much heat over their little heads - that's really important!  Many lamps are cute, but get way too hot.  Great ones simulate natural light and stay cool like full spectrum floor lamps that you can find at online and offline stores.  Please, please do NOT use halogen if you can help it!

4. Offer practical yet comfortable seating.  Let's face it, a straight-back chair in a hard material just does not scream relax on me with a book.  Your child will gravitate to something that looks comfortable, feels soft, and that she can call her own.  The couch can be comfy, but be careful.  The family pet, little brother, or meandering husband may be tempted to have a seat on the couch as well.  This would distract your child from his book to say the least, if not pull her completely away into another activity.  That's not to say you have to make 3 separate reading nooks for all 3 of your kids - but make sure they each have their own seat.  Kids like to feel ownership.  Include a spot for yourself so you can join in either reading with them, to them, or reading your own book to be a great example. 

The floor isn't advised either, it's impossible to get comfortable for a long time (and no, a rug and pillow won't be much to help).  Our thoughts for fantastic comfortable seating choices are soft, cozy bean bag chairs.

Make sure they are easy to clean, preferably with machine-washable covers and water-repellent liners.  To encourage ownership, personalize the bean bag cover with your child's name, or something fun like "READ HERE!".

Kids who fidget can move into different positions in a bean bag chair quickly so reading is not disrupted too much (they can get comfortable on their tush, their back, their tummy, etc.).  Bean bags have been used successfully with kids with ADHD.  You can add a smaller bean bag to prop up the feet.

5.  Create a book depot. Include a sturdy, stable bookshelf or a special book basket within easy reach.  Add a new book on a set schedule so there is something to look forward to.  If you cannot afford to buy them, go to the library for easy book renewal.  Thrift shops often offer inexpensive used books (maybe offer to trade).  You can add a new book as a reward for good behavior (better than stickers and candy!).  Always make it a glorious event!

6.  Add a cozy lap blanket.  If you want, offer a small side table with a note pad and pen.  Encourage your child to jot down ideas that the book gives him such as new topics he would like to read about.  If there's more doodling then ideas, remove it. 

7.  Adding snacks or drinks. On the subject of snacks and drinks, it's probably not a good idea unless you can ensure your child won't be distracted and the books can stay clean.  With that said, if your child tends to always need to stop reading to get a drink, it may not be a bad idea if it will keep them focused.

8. Create a list of "books I want". Creating such a list with your child can rev up the excitement. Create a list of "books I've read" and reward each addition to the list with a sticker or another book!  And always a big hug. 

9.  Setup an additional computer space. You can provide a laptop, but be sure to use it only to look for new books or other literacy-related purposes when the laptop is in the reading corner.  You or your child can look up the definition of a word or explore a topic (keep it brief, remember this is a reading corner).

10.  Be an "active" reader and encourage "active reading".  Use your hands, voice, and sounds to make the story come alive and get your child excited.  She will mimic you and be just as creative.  Practicing being outgoing and expressive will help build confidence and self-esteem.

11.  Keep the reading area clean and tidy.  Your child should help, again, to encourage ownership.

12.  Use online resources to investigate and discover ideas.  You can download over a million books online for free at Google's http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2009/08/download-over-million-public-domain.html.  Google also provides book searches, articles, and videos on literacy at http://http://www.google.com/literacy/.  Another great resource is Google Books http://books.google.com/googlebooks/about.html - you can search the full text of books for topics that interest your child from fairies to baseball.  You can preview some books, and even freely download others.  Google Books will also help you locate where to buy or borrow the book.

At Reading Is Fundamental http://www.rif.org/, you'll find reading tips to spark enthusiasm, all sorted by age group!  Access free monthly reading and writing activity calendars, too.  They also offer free downloads of audio books (visit http://http://kids.audible.com/ -scroll down to the bottom left for the free link).  Use audio books in the reading corner to mix up reading a book and listening to one.

Professor Trevor Cairney offers very informative information on "Literacy, Families and Learning" to help parents and teachers.  In his "The Importance of Reading To and With Your Children", Professor Cairney gives detailed steps of how to move from reading to a child to involving them in the reading process.

Use these 12 tips to get you and your child on the road to literacy.  You can certainly apply these tips to the home, but also to libraries and classrooms.  For professional offices, such as dentists and doctors, a reading area would be appreciated by parents and kids waiting for their turn.  The goal is to get kids used to seeing, handling, and reaching for a book. Let's encourage all kids to read wherever they go!  Get on board!