Read to your kids. Make it fun. My nephew loves books and will always drag a couple out for me to read. He'll point to the picture and tell me what the book is about. Both he and his little sister love a bed time story. I remember one night I had to read 4 books; 2 While the pair were in her bed and then the 3 of us moved to his room to read his 2 choices.
Last time I went over there I took a book along again (When you've had to watch the 'Wiggles' once you've seen them enough). While I was photoreading the book my neice turned around and asked me what I was doing. I said, "reading" (3 year old - you keep the answer simple). She said, "you'll tear the pages if you keep turning them like that." I lost my pace I had to laugh to think that at 3 years she was concerned about tearing pages of a book.
Later my nephew followed me back to the lounge after we were on the computer. The book was lying on the lounge and the wiggles were still going. My nephew (6 years btw) saw the book his eyes lit up and grabbed it for a look see. Fanned the book 4 times while looking at the pages. (yes he's seen me do it too.) Then opened the book then tried to pick out any words that he could recognise.
The book was Reading Without Nonsense - by Frank Smith - he writes,
quote:
The only way children can become familar with the written language, before they can extend their knowledge by reading for themselves, is by being read to.
Have fun with reading to them and when it comes to teaching them to photoread, they will imitate you as soon as they can.
Alex