One of the biggest predictors of long term school success is reading ability. Learning to read doesn't start when kids start recognizing words, or blending sounds, it starts when you start talking to them, read them stories and develop their love of books and stories.

Lives are busy, even 3 year olds have schedules and commitments and sometimes the only time to fit in reading is bedtime. Here are a few extra times to fit in reading !

Bath Time We love to read in the bath. Not those plastic bath books , real regular story books. My son doesn't need help in the bath but is still years away from being allowed to be in there unsupervised. So instead I grab a 3-4 books and I read as he scrubs and splashes.

At Restaurants and During Erands I rotate the books in our car every week or so, that way we always have a handful to read while waiting for food at a restaurant, in the waiting room at the doctors, or for him to look at himself while I shop.

Book Picnic I make sandwiches, grab some fruit, a big blanket and a bunch of books and we head out to the backyard and make a lunch date with the sun and some wonderful stories.

Nap Time We have always read books at nap time as well as bedtime and I was surprised to find out others don't . It's a perfect way to chill out and share books. Even if your child isn't napping anymore it's a great start to quiet time as well.

I hope one of these sparks some ideas for you to share more reading time with your child no matter how busy your life is.