Easy steps to prepare a Montessori book corner
During the past 15 years working in schools it has always been a constant question from parents: ‘Is there anything we can do to make my child like books?’
Luckily, there are plenty of things we can do as parents in order to achieve this goal.
The love for books can be transmitted to young children from a very early age. Enjoying moments during the day to read stories together, look at pictures and spend precious time together.
We can nourish and cultivate this love for books for your children for example by offering accessible spaces, interesting and appropriate choices; and comfortable spaces.
Sounds like something you could do at home?
o Accessible furniture
We need to offer an accessible reading area to the child in order to enable him to see the books that are available. This way she will independently be able to take them and, hopefully soon, put them back.
There are several inexpensive and space saving ways to achieve this goal.
You can place books on:
1. Small wall frame
2. The lower shelf of an adult book case
3. Book display (this one is from IKEA)
4. Basket on a shelf or directly on the floor
5. Floor mat
As you can see, anything that enables the child to take the books independently will be a WIN.
o Comfortable Spaces
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to offer our children a nice cosy area to sit in and enjoy books? When we want to read, we prepare the space (sofa or bed…) to ensure a pleasant time while reading.
We should do the same for our children, by providing a comfortable space they can sit and enjoy a nice story or picture book.
At home, we have prepared a reading corner in the living room and another one in her room. In the living room, she climbs on to the sofa to read a book, but she has as well the option of two cushions or a small pouf on the floor by the book shelf.
We can offer:
1. Floor cushions
2. Child size sofa
3. Small pouf
4. Mattress on the floor
5. Normal adult sofa (if the child knows how to get on and off independently)
o Keep it interesting
Rotate - rotate - rotate
Offering your child fewer options of books will help her develop decision making.
Offering fewer books in the book corner will be MORE appealing for your child as she will be able to see what is available. And to be honest, it's an aesthetically beautiful presentation.
Observe what is that your child is particularly interested in, and offer it to her. Rotating books will create excitement in the "new" books. It will be as though; the books are being seen for the first time, even if you have had them for years.
At home we have a small selection of books for our daughter and we rotate them every week or two weeks. During the rotation period, we might swap them all or just a particular book in which she no longer shows any interest in. (look in my Instagram account to see more pictures)
As soon as she spots a new book she instantly takes it and reads it. It's like pollen to bees.
Don't put pressure on yourselves. Do as you can, do as you feel. The important thing here is to enjoy reading and pass this joy and love for books to our little ones.
Our daughter thoroughly enjoys reading books, even more so when her dad sits with her and they look at his cooking books! She sits next to him, turns the pages and points to the pictures and letters.
It is such a special moment and what an amazing gift have we given to her.
She will always choose a book before some toys, and we love it! This is why we pay so much attention to our book corner and how to make it accessible appealing and cosy for her.
