I really like the part that says that no one was surprised.  I have heard that it was common and expected a hundred or more years ago for young children to learn to read on their parents laps.  Children started school already knowing how to read.  Here we are, over a hundred years later and four out of ten 8 years olds cannot read.  That is a frightening statistic. Studies show that kids that are behind in reading in third grade do not catch up but continue to struggle.  This is such a shame.  Reading is a pleasure that cannot be replaced by movies and other electronic devices.  There is something very special about getting lost in a good book.  Books can take us to times past and present.  They can evoke string emotions in us and even inspire us.

Sharing stories with our children cannot be replaced by other activities.  Reading to our children feeds their brains.  Language development naturally occurs when we stimulate our children's minds with books and stories. When we enjoy stories together, we create strong bonds as well as favorable attitudes towards reading.  These are critical steps in creating lifetime readers.  Let's face it, those that make a habit of reading are more educated than those that don't read regularly.  Readers are able to educate themselves and any of a variety of subjects as long as they can find the resources necessary to teach.

If there is one thing that I want to be sure of with my children, it is that they love to read.  My children range in age from 4 -15 years old and they all love to read.  They can easily spend hours at a time reading books.  I have always fostered this love of reading by enthusiastically engaging them in stories.  We visit the library and the bookstore regularly and we read on a daily basis.  They now have the tools they need to succeed because reading can take them anywhere they choose to go.

If you want to introduce reading to your babies and toddlers, check out the MonkiSee Baby Reading Program.  Parents that use the program for a few minutes a day will naturally direct their child toward a love of reading as well as the ability to read at a young age.  It is fun and easy to use and kids love it.