The process of language learning begins from the very first words that you say to your little baby. This continues as your baby grows and continues to discover the joys of communication. Talking and making her views clear is what the child enjoys because speech is an essential part of communication and is enhanced by skills such as reading, writing and drawing.

The best way to get your little one on the road to literacy is to help her enjoy reading, writing, listening and talking. Half the battle is won if you are a book lover yourself. This is because if parents have a reading habit, it is very likely that the child will also pick up the habit.

Talking
The first step is to keep talking to the child while playing. Frequently ask your child questions such as, "What do you want to play?" or "How do you want to play?" When you put your child in control, she will develop confidence and begin to think before speaking. The power of communicating and using the imagination will thrill your child and this, in turn, will fuel her reading habit.

Drawing
This is another captivating way to help your child develop the reading habit. Keep your toddler in the company of paper and crayons and let her imagination run wild. When your child draws, she is exploring the possibility of creating and manipulating her motor-skills. She also learns hand-eye coordination and recognises familiar figures such as cats and dogs. Understanding symbols is an essential part of developing language skills.

Telling stories
Reading stories aloud to your little one will encourage her to open a story book and enjoy a story. Such a child will grow into an individual who pursues books relentlessly. Converting real events into tales, for example, helps to build your child's imagination. You can start off with something familiar such as, "When you were a baby..." or "When you attempted to jump from the swing..." Also, listen to stories from her such as "What happened at school..." with enthusiasm and respect for her thoughts.

Make a book
Take some family pictures and paste them onto a piece of paper. Ask your child about each picture and write a caption under each photo. Bind these pages together like a book. This will thrill the child as she sees the words she speaks converted into a story. Such an empowering experience can engage your child in books forever.

Gift books
Keep your child in the company of books. For every birthday or good deed, reward her with a book so that she will have positive associations with books and good reading habits. Colourful books with lots of pictures and supporting text will capture her interest. Pop-up books will interest toddlers. Once your child can read reasonably well, let her read labels and signs when you go to the market. Young children are easily excited by their ability to read words and sentences.

With parental support and teacher guidance, a child can develop good reading habits and be weaned from any excessive TV-viewing habits.

Children today no longer wish to read cute fairy tales with happy endings -- books with realistic stories are ideal for them. So give your child the pleasure of books and they will develop a lifelong love.

About the Author Ritu Ghai is a freelance writer based in New Delhi, India. She contributes articles on various topics in mainstream Indian magazines and the Hindustan Times, a leading Indian newspaper.