The morning sunlight streams through the windows of the atelier at Ekya Early Years. A child runs fingers gently over the raised letters on a sandpaper alphabet, another flips through picture books in the reading nook, while a teacher reads aloud, voice soft but full of resonance. In that room, reading is not a lesson—it’s an invitation, a shared adventure between young and old.
Among preschools in Bangalore, it’s rare to find this kind of atmosphere so thoroughly embedded: where story and sound become as important as numbers and shapes. Ekya Early Years has made reading central to its philosophy, rooted in programs like Love to Read, which combine Montessori sensibilities, gentle guidance, and joyful literacy. Parents watching this might wonder: How can I replicate even a fraction of this at home?
Here are eight tips grounded in research, refined through experience, to help your child become a reader for life.
8 Tips to Inspire Early Reading
- Read aloud every day
Choose a regular time. It can be morning, bedtime, or after lunch and read together. Hearing rich, expressive reading helps children internalise rhythm, vocabulary, and narrative structure. - Follow your child’s interests
If they love animals, pick books about zoos, pets, or jungle adventures. Interest fuels motivation. - Use all senses
The Montessori-based curriculum at Ekya, a top kindergarten in Bangalore, encourages children to touch, see, hear, and sometimes even smell the stories, through tactile books, illustrations, props, or dramatisation. - Let children “read” pictures
Before they can read words, they learn narrative and comprehension through images. Ask them what they think will happen next or how a character feels. - Make print part of daily life
Labels, recipe cards, signs, menus, all these help children see print and understand its purpose. - Celebrate small wins
When your child recognises a letter, finishes a story, or retells part of the plot, that’s progress. Celebrate it, clap, share, encourage. - Model reading yourself
Children in Kindergarten in Bangalore see what parents do. Let them see you read newspapers, cookbooks, or even poetry. When literacy becomes visible, it becomes valued. - Connect reading with programs that strengthen literacy
Enrol your child in structured reading initiatives. Ekya Early Years’ Love to Read program is a great example. It offers read-alouds, storytelling, vocabulary building, and exposure to a diverse range of books. Explore how their Love to Read program immerses children in stories and discovery – see the program here.
Why It Makes a Difference
A study from the US reports that children who read for pleasure early (even comics or picture books) tend to do better on cognitive tests later, with better mental health and stronger comprehension skills. Experts note it’s the pleasurable interaction with stories and images that drives growth.
Decades of research show that early reading, or even exposure to language through stories and pictures, supports vocabulary, attention, comprehension, and emotional development. Engaging in shared reading experiences builds empathy and patience. For children in Montessori schools in Bangalore, reading becomes more than academic preparation; it becomes a gateway to curiosity, confidence, and connection.
At Ekya Early Years, the combination of Atelier spaces, performing arts, the Quest Program, and interactive literacy helps young learners cross from fascination into fluency.
FAQs
Q1. When should I start reading with my child?
Anytime possible; even in infancy. Early exposure to stories, sounds, and print lays the foundation for language and literacy.
Q2. How do I choose books without overwhelming my child or myself?
Start small: picture books, board books, rhyme books. Follow their interests. Rotate genres: animals, adventure, folklore.
Q3. What if my child seems uninterested or distracted?
Try shorter sessions, use expressive voices, props, or let them choose the book. It’s normal. Interest often grows gradually.
Q4. Does reading in a program like Love to Read make a big difference?
Yes. Structured programs bring diversity of books, expert guidance, and consistent routines that reinforce reading habits.
Q5. Can reading also help with other skills besides literacy?
Absolutely. Reading builds patience, attention, imagination, empathy, and even critical thinking skills valued in top schools in Bangalore and beyond.