Why Your Child Needs a Reading Corner at Home

By Rhea Daulet-Singh

I still vividly remember the day my parents created a reading corner for my brother and me at home. It was the summer of 2005, and the sun outside was scorching hot.

While many of my peers felt bored and restless sitting indoors, we had our own personal sanctuary. Through our reading corner, we travelled to the most fascinating places, whether it was the magical land of Hogwarts, or the captivating Kirrin Island with Anne, Dick, Julian and George (the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton).

Our reading corner was small, inviting and cosy, filled with books waiting to be dived into. The sense of belonging and peace we felt was immense as it was a space where we could simply relax with a book, or go on adventures that were filled with wonder and discovery.?

At school, I was always considered a shy, timid child. However, the stories that I read at my home’s reading corner ensured that I had a rich inner world, exposing me to the values of empathy, friendship, struggle and resilience. Some books had endless chapters, while others just had a few pages, filled with vibrant pictures and alliterations, enabling me to differentiate between letters, words and their formations at an early age. Moreover, even mundane moments were filled with magic as I explored topics that went beyond my textbooks.

Slowly, yet surely, I was able to apply my learnings from home in school through my growing vocabulary, language, and communication skills. The stories that I wrote for my English class were rich with creativity and imagination, earning praise from many of my educators.?

In high school, I was able to identify critical themes, issues, and symbolism in novels with ease — a skill that also helped me in college. Even in my teenage years, I often gravitated to the reading corner, for a moment of peace, or to flip through my old books (many I still have to this date!), reminiscing over fond memories of my parents reading to my brother and me.

All these years later, as I work with children at Learning Matters, I notice that many of them enjoy spending time in our reading corner, which is warm and welcoming, filled with fairy lights and age-appropriate books.?

We also have a small space behind a bookshelf, overlooking the playground through a large window, which the children often refer to as the “Secret Library”. The soft rugs and pillows add an additional dimension of comfort, further enticing children to curl up with a good book, often narrated by the educator.

Here are some tips to build your own reading?corner:

• Choose or create a cosy spot at home. Children love spaces that they can burrow in. You can create a tent with fabrics, use a space under the stairs, etc.
• Have enough space to erect at least two small bookshelves or even large baskets to keep the books in.
• Use bookshelves that are at eye level for your child so they can easily access any book of their liking.
• Arrange the shelves in an organised manner, giving enough space for your child to sit and relax. You can also add multiple pillows and beanbags.
• Fill the bookshelves with developmentally appropriate books. Young children learn through rhyme and repetition. Some authors that we keep at Learning Matters are Julia Donaldson, Oliver Jeffers, Mem Fox, and Erik Carle.
• It is helpful to have a system to organise your books, making it easy to find a specific book that you are looking for. Moreover, labelling the sections with letters and themes aids in creating print awareness for children.
• Add a cloth drape along with fairy lights, making the space inviting for your child to explore. Small and calming spaces like reading corners are integral for children to relax in and have a moment to themselves, contributing to their growth and development.

How a reading corner benefits your?child:

• Your child will have the opportunity to learn about the wider world while travelling on exciting adventures, simply from the confines of their home.
• Many times, children might try to sit and read by themselves by flipping through the pages, with pre-literacy skills emerging naturally through their reading.
• A reading corner can act as a sanctuary for your child — a place where they can escape from the noise of the outside world.
• There are many life lessons to be learned from stories, such as empathy, compassion and strength, increasing one’s EQ along with their IQ.
• It encourages you to spend time reading to your child, which has immense benefits.

Moreover, my love for reading has provided me with rose-tinted glasses, making difficult times seem easier. At the height of the pandemic, I escaped into my reading corner, continuing my learning journey about the world around me.

This article originally appeared in The Times of India.?