Let you kids read a book to you. Even it they can't read, it encourages their imagination and makes feel "all grown up". Oooh and Aaah over how awesome they are.

My 5 year old was having bad nightmares. His pediatrician recommended turning the tv off about an hour to two hours before bedtime, and then reading him a book before he went to sleep. Viola, it worked! No more nightmares! Can't say no bad dreams, but no more screaming for mommy and sleeping in my bed every night. I think the reading has a LOT to do with it, gets their imaginations at work focusing on something good to dream about.

My kids in the summer want to stay up later, because the sun is out longer. Instead of fighting to get them to bed we tell them if they want to stay up they can get a book and read in their rooms quietly. No games, just any book they want to read or browse. We started with our oldest and she loved the idea. Then when her sister got old enough she wanted to "stay up and read" also. Now their 6 year old brother is "staying up" as well.

Our daughter is required to read 20 min per night. So all three kids go up to bed 20 min early brush their teeth, go to the bathroom and wash up. Then they go into their rooms to read at bed time it is lights out time. It turned out to be a great wind down time for them and now we have less problems getting them to bed.

My daughter, now 25 and a mom herself, and I would read EVERYTHING when she was growing up. We enjoyed lots of books, of course. But there are also many other things around us to read, like street signs and billboards, package labels, directions and store displays, bumper stickers, company logos on trucks....

We used to watch TV before bed, but I found some books at the library for some of the movies/characters we watched. So, now instead of watching that program, we read about it. While we read, we stop and ask questions to make it more interactive. It's definately more enjoyable.

Read to your children early and often. Show them the words as you say them and soon they'll be reading along with you.

Reading is also reqired in our school but since only 2 of my children can read, we enjoy reading all together. I take turns with them as we all snuggle together. Not only do I get some special quiet time with them but it also gives me a chance to see how well they're progressing in their reading abilities.

The children in my life prefer to read stories that have a good plot, not stories that are typically "for kids"

I think my 2 year old son is developing my habit I had growing up. A love for books. He tries to read mine so I grab his out for him. We do creative things such as packing a picnic basket with healthy snacks and sitting under the tree in our back yard reading books. He also loves to read to me. He makes up the silliest stuff.