6 Ways to Bond With Your Child Through Reading

We all have those cherished books that made a big impression on us growing up. Many of us look back on them with the hopes to one day share them with our own children and impart the same values we picked up from their pages.

Sharing your favourite reading memories is a powerful way to bond with your child, inspire their love of literature from an early age, and create brand new reading memories together.

Here are some tips for sharing your personal literary treasures with your children.

1. Don't expect the exact same response

No matter how dearly you hold onto your childhood classics, the truth is that times have changed, and so have children. Your child may simply not share the same passion for your highly prized children's books, or it may not resonate with them in quite the same way.

If your child isn't responding to your childhood classics, there's no shame in not finishing the book. It's possible that they are just not ready for the themes, language or context of the story. Nevertheless, a great read is still a great, especially if your treasured childhood books include classic literature, such as Anne of Green Gables, Charlotte's Web or James and the Giant Peach, which brings us to our next point…

2. Choose quality literature (look to the classics)

Some of your childhood picks might include obscure titles that have stuck with you for a very specific reason. Maybe it was an old paperback you found with your parents at an old discount store, or a lesser known title that appealed to your particular tastes or unique sense of fun (e.g. gags, gore and grossness, which may not be everyone's cup of tea!)

However, what makes a book a classic is its ability to tell a good story and present a deep understanding of human nature. Classic stories transmit timeless values, exhibit the beauty of language, and spark a sense of wonder and imagination. Books like The Secret Garden, Wind in the Willows and The Ugly Duckling promote universal values that have stood the test of time and continue to make compelling reads for young readers today. Choosing quality literature will increase the chances of your child sharing in the same joys and learnings as you did growing up.

3. Talk about the story as you go, and explain things if you need to

Stories from our childhood may use more unfamiliar words, language and themes than usual. Some of it may even be outdated. But this shouldn't be a big problem. Explain the story as you go, and modify the language if you need to. Once you're halfway through and your child is used to the style, it won't be as necessary. If it's a chapter book, read a chapter at a time, especially for children five and under – short sharp bursts will help them maintain interest.

Pausing every now and again to talk about the story is also a great way to check your child's understanding and improve their comprehension skills. Talk to them about how much you enjoyed the book when you were a child, and relate it back to moments in your childhood. You can even show them the original versions if you have them. Don't worry about going on tangents – the point of sharing these treasures with your child is to create positive reading experiences for them. By turning reading into a fun bonding experience, your child is likely to associate reading with positive memories – a helpful step in learning to read for pleasure.

4. If it didn't scare you, it will probably be OK for your child too

A lot of parents worry that some of their favourite children's books are too dark. Think Grimm's Fairy Tales, Lemony Snicket, and even some classic nursery rhymes like Rock‑a‑bye Baby and Jack and Jill.

Nobody knows your child as well as you do. If you think some of your classic children's titles will keep them awake over the next few nights, definitely steer clear until they're older. But generally children can handle a lot more than we give them credit for.

Children's author and teacher Kelly Barnhill summed it up brilliantly when she said, “[Kids] are darker and creepier and far more sinister than anything that you will find on display of a Barnes & Noble … In their imaginations, villains lurk under the stairs, assassins hide behind shower curtains, and tentacled monsters slurp along the basement floor.” If your classic stories appealed more to your sense of curiosity and adventure, rather than fear, chances are it will be the same for your child too.

5. Save some of the classics for grandparents

We know how much you'd like to share every single one of your childhood classics, but remember that grandparents can play a big role in building your child's love of reading too. If your child is lucky enough to have grandparents in their life, encourage them to start their own reading traditions together. Have your child's grandparents introduce special books that are only read when they're together.

6. Read together, even if they can read independently

So your little one has already mastered the art of getting lost in a good book. But that doesn't matter. If your child is already reading independently, it's still great to set aside some special reading time together every now and then to bond and continue building positive reading experiences with them, even into adolescence if you're one of the lucky ones. Do bedtime story nights for as long as your child welcomes it and after that, watch movies together based on your favourite books, or enjoy audio books for long family road trips.

Some classics to get you started (you'll find these in the Reading Eggs library):

• The Velveteen Rabbit

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

• Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

• Cinderella

• Hansel and Grethel

• Rumpelstiltskin

• The Emperor's New Clothes

• The Frog Prince

• The Ancient Mariner

• The Railway Children

• The Snow Queen

• The Stonecutter

• The Travels of Tom Thumb

• How the Leopard Got Its Spots

• The Golden Goose.

Read more about the Reading Eggs online library here.