Learning to read in the early years

This week we have been learning about learning to read in the early years and the importance of introducing books to children from a very young age. A very interesting topic.

I think this is vitally important and through experience of my own two year old daughter who was introduced to books from a very early age, I can already see the difference it is making. Nursery staff have also commented on her extensive use of words and vocabularly for such a young child and so I can only think that this has a lot to do with the books she is read and the books she explores herself.

We were told that we should get children to love books so that they become thoughtful and engaged readers. There is so much to gain from reading and looking at books yet I know that some children come to nursery having never looked at a book or knowing about classic stories such as the three billy goats gruff or red riding hood. These are the children we need to focus on and we need to show them how fun, interesting and enjoyable books can actually be.

Just wondering if anyone else has any views on this or even experience of children with poor reading skills - how do you help these children to become thoughtful and engaged readers?