Last time, we talked about library visits with little ones. So, now that you’ve got oodles of books, I want to talk about creating a literate environment at home!

A literate environment is just fancy lingo for a place that encourages reading and writing. In the classroom, we make sure we have ample space for a large meeting area; a classroom library; places for individual and small group work; and lots of wall space for child-created work (rather than having lots of commercial or store-bought posters or signs, we create our own alphabet, birthday chart, color wall, etc). At home (unless you are a Duggar), you obviously don’t need all that! But, I think there are ways to create an environment at home where literacy is highly encouraged and taught by instilling independence and a love for reading and writing.

I think the most important thing in making your home a literate environment is to make sure that reading and writing tools are accessible for your child. Of course, you want to be sure to be safe and keep potential hazards away from your child’s reach, but even from a young age, there are ways to keep and store age-appropriate materials so your child can access them on his own.

When Lil’ CB was about 2, we took a trip to the store to look for a large container with a lid that Lil’ CB could open and close on his own. Once we tested and tried different containers and settled on one, we brought it home and filled it with Lil’ CB’s art and writing supplies that had previously been stashed away in different bins or shelves. We named it his “work box” (though it often gets called his “art box”) and Lil’ CB has total control of when it is opened and used.

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It is filled with things like coloring books, blank sketch pads, crayons, washable markers and stamps (and the ever-essential-to-writing plastic french fry and ring-toss game).

Whenever we need to write a card or letter, we pull out the work box and, well, get to work! Lil’ CB also brings it out on his own to practice writing letters or just to draw or color. The most important thing is that he knows it’s there and can access it all on his own without my help or permission. I want him to know that when he wants to write or draw or create, he can do so on his own and take ownership of his work as a young writer and artist.

We also have books EVERYWHERE! Lil’ CB’s bookshelf is easy for him to reach and browse through:

(You can see a certain nap protester’s hand reaching for a book to read in bed!)

I initially separated the books and put all our very nice signed copies and other pristine hardcover books on the top shelf, but Lil’ CB could still reach them and would (of course) want to read the books up there. So I figured, books are meant to be read and got over my own fear of wrinkled pages and now the books are just in random order on either shelf.

We also have basket of favorites under our reading chair and our big library bag next to that.

If you don’t have a lot of books at home, you can certainly scatter you library books throughout the house, but for me and my unorganized self, keeping the library books in the library bag helps with making sure they all get returned!

There are also baskets of books in other rooms of the house, too. We keep a basket of books downstairs by Lil’ CB’s toy box,

and also in our bedroom.

This basket is really helpful when Lil’ CB is hanging out in our room while we’re showering or getting ready!

I love having books everywhere because it means they are read everywhere! I wanted to make sure that Lil’ CB knew he could read a book wherever and whenever he wanted to. Sure there are days when he won’t touch book outside of our naptime and bedtime routines, but most days, between Lil’ CB looking at books on his own and bringing them to us to read to him, Lil’ CB probably reads (or “reads”) between 5-15 books per day. And with a recommended 6-10 read alouds per day in primary classrooms, that really makes this teacher momma’s heart happy!

Of course, it took us a bit to get to the point where we could have all of these books and materials available for Lil’ CB to access independently. And of course, we did have some casualties from things not being put away properly — broken crayons, dog-eaten books, etc, but that does teach some lessons about responsibility, too! Overall, I feel that even at 2.75, Lil’ CB values reading and writing and sees himself as a reader and writer.  And I hope that stays with him forever and ever!

What do you do at home to create a literate environment?