Reading, just like any skill, starts at home. But as parents and our child's first mentor and teacher, it is often difficult to encourage them to go on and master this skill when especially nowadays, they are more interested in watching television or just playing video games.

Reading is a very fundamental skill your child should master. From mastering this skill, they would definitely be on their way to learning and discovering new things. Here are a few tips on how to nurture and develop your little one's enthusiasm towards reading.

• Get to learn more about your child's interests and hobbies. From there, look for reading materials that cover topics around those interests or hobbies.

• Be more observant on which things your child is more attracted to. Build on that interest even if he only looks at pictures of those things. Encourage him to learn more on those things just by bringing home pieces of wondrous information about those stuff. Always point out how much more he can learn if he could read more often about it. Present reading as not only something one should learn but also of how valuable it can be for him on gathering information especially on things he is inclined to learn about.

• Always lead by example. You want your child to love reading; he has to see it from you, too. Show him how much you enjoy reading yourself. During your spare time let your child see you enthusiastically read the available reading materials that you have in your home.

• Encourage your child to pick their own special favorites. When you go to a bookstore, let him wander through the children's books' section and allow him to pick something of interest to him. You'll never know from then on, he'd be asking you for another tour to the bookstore and before you know it, he now has a stack of his own special collection of books to read.

And when he does have his own collection, allow him to have a special place where he can keep them. It may just be a basket, a box or a sturdy container he can put on a special corner in his room. That way, you also encourage him to respect and take care of his things.

• Sometimes, one of the reasons your child is reluctant to read is because he is not confident of his skill or because he has poor reading skills. Read out loud to him a passage of his favorite book or an exciting bit of information from the newspaper or magazine or even a funny quote out of a joke book and allow him to read it out to you again.

Learning how to read does not necessarily mean putting him under pressure like pronouncing each word well. Rather it is something he should enjoy as well. Note that even the most skillful of readers do commit mistakes sometimes, why should he be any different? Carefully nurture his development and slowly allow his confidence to blossom as well as his love and enthusiasm towards books and reading.