Reading aloud from age 2 — How to build a reading habit at home

1. Why read aloud so early

Shared reading is one of the most well-rounded activities in early childhood: it expands vocabulary, improves comprehension, lengthens attention span and creates a moment of connection between adult and child.

Your child doesn't need to know how to read. Looking at pictures, pointing, repeating words and guessing what will happen next already counts as reading.

2. Tete: curiosity as a driving force

Tete, the family's passionate reader, looks to books for answers to the group's questions. His catchphrase, "Let's find out!", turns reading into a tool for solving everyday mysteries, not a school chore:

• Read to discover: if your child asks why it rains or how ants live, look for a book on the topic together.
• Let them choose: respect their choices even if they want the same story every night; repetition is learning too.
• Lead by example: children who see their parents read tend to copy them.

3. Practical tips by age

• Ages 2 to 3: board books with big pictures, sounds and repetitive phrases. Short sessions of just a few minutes.
• Ages 4 to 5: stories with a simple plot. Ask open-ended questions ("What do you think will happen?") and let your child tell the story their own way.
• Ages 6 to 7: take turns reading: a page for the adult, a sentence for the child. Visit the library together.
• At every age: read with expression, do different voices for the characters and make reading part of the bedtime routine.