Why A Reading Nook is Important
Fostering a love of reading early in life can set your child up for success in school and beyond, and creating a DIY reading nook is just one way to encourage reading every day. Having a space free from toys and distraction allows your child to focus on the words on each page. You can create a reading nook even in a small bedroom with just a few additions. Remember that this space should be exclusively for reading or relaxing.
While having a space without toys and screens might also seem like a good place for timeouts, avoid using the reading corner as a place for punishment. You don’t want your child to associate it with being a place to go when he or she is in trouble. Fill the reading nook with cozy accessories and encourage your child to spend even a few moments in it each day. Even if your kids are not old enough to read yet, simply looking at the words and pictures in board books will help create the foundation for great reading skills later on.
Choose Warm, Neutral Colors
You don’t have to paint or redecorate to create a reading nook, but you’ll want to choose a color theme for any items you buy to create the space. Warm, neutral colors can be very calming, setting the perfect scene for reading without distractions. Think soft blues, greens, and pinks, along with ivory or beige. If your child is old enough to help design and decorate the space, be sure to ask for input before you start shopping. It’s important they love the way it looks as much as you do.
