Here are some figures that are really scary. According to statistics from Para Publishing, one third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives, and over 80 percent of US families did not buy or read a book last year.

It’s not difficult to understand why reading habits have decreased they way they have. With competition from television, and (ahem) the Internet, books have a hard time making a place for themselves in our imagination.

While figures like these are daunting, it’s not impossible for you to help your preschooler develop a love for reading. Take it slow, keep at it, and you should be able to gift your child the reading bug.

Catch Them Young
Start when your child is just a few months old – old enough to recognize your voice and look at pictures. When they’re toddlers and old enough to recognize alphabets, ask them to point out letters that they recognize as you read.

Make Reading Part of their Daily Routine
Keep aside an hour everyday to read with your child. It could be a simple story book, or a collection of rhymes. No television, no distractions.

Make Friends with Books
Gift books for birthdays, and for no reason at all. Take him along to the book store so he can pick out a book of his choice. Encourage relatives to gift him books too. You don’t have to completely stop with the toys. Just make sure you add at least one book to the mix.

Make Reading a Fun Activity
Have fun while reading to your child! Use different voices for different characters, and help him paint a mental picture of every scene. Don’t be dull and boring. The point is to make him think, “Wow! This is fun!”

Use Word Games and Often
Board games like Scrabble are not only a terrific way to spend time with your child, they also build reading skills. Plus, the two in one effect is unbeatable. You’ll be helping him read, while also bonding with him at the same time!