Kids bookshelf ideas: how to set up a bookshelf for kids

Why having a kids bookshelf at home is important

Reading is very important for cognitive development and to build up certain skills such as language and listening skills that they will use as they learn to read and write. It’s proven that reading is a very important part of a child’s cognitive development such as their ability to think, understand, remember and make connections between symbols and concepts.

Find out more about cognitive development in children and other developmental skills here.

Reading is also great for opening up their minds to new places, people and things, as well as inspire their creativity. That’s why it’s very important to establish a positive relationship with reading during early childhood development. However, we also should be aware that all children develop in their own unique way, and have different interests, reading preferences and learning styles.

Knowing this, it’s a great idea to tailor your child’s bookshelf and their library to fit their specific needs and interests. To learn more about how to set up the perfect kids bookshelf, continue reading below to find the best bookshelf to choose, the appropriate books for your child, and creative ways to display them that will inspire your child to read.

Picking the perfect bookshelf

The first thing is to choose the type of bookshelf you think will work best for your child. Your child’s age and learning style can determine which bookshelf you will choose. The most important thing to remember is that your child should have easy access to the bookshelf, and that it encourages them to want to read.

Low-level bookshelf

One option is to choose a low bookshelf that is on their ground and is fully accessible to your child. This way, they will feel comfortable with the idea of grabbing a book. For this option, you can also use a bin or a wagon for easy access and mobility. This option is great to make sure your child is encouraged to want to pick up a book by themselves, rather than being given a book by a parent or teacher. One thing to consider with this option is that it can be messier than other options. On ground level, they will have full access to look through their favourite books to choose the one they want at that moment. Although messy, this option is great for encouraging organic reading!

Front-facing bookshelf or display shelf

Another great option is a bookshelf that is more like a display shelf, so that the books can be placed facing open. For this option, you can use picture rails or a front facing bookshelf. This is a great option if your child is younger, or is a visual learner. Having the books facing open or showing the front cover is a perfect way to encourage your child to want to pick up a book, rather than be intimidated to read or forget they’re even there. This fun and friendly way of displaying books is a great option to remind your child of the books that are available, so they can choose the book that piques their interest.

Traditional bookshelf

For more advanced readers or older children, a good option is to opt for a more traditional bookshelf that can hold lots of books. This bookshelf option is great for a little bookworm that is constantly growing their collection of books.

Put books on the toy shelf

On the other hand, if your little one is hard to encourage, it’s a good idea to try a storage shelf that can hold books as well as other items your kids love to play with. This is a great option to encourage them to pick up a book when they are looking for their favourite toys.

How to organize your child’s books

As we have just discussed, there are many ways to display your child’s books based upon the type of bookshelf you choose, their age and their reading preferences. No matter which bookshelf you choose, this does not necessarily mean you are limited to one single way of displaying and organizing your child’s books. Think of the bookshelf as the paper, and the books as the words that create the story.

Organize by their favourites

One way you can organize the bookshelf is by featuring books your child likes the most. This could mean placing them at the shelf that is at their level, or displaying them facing open or showing the front cover. This is a great way to encourage your child to return to their favourites and practice their reading skills.

Organize by colour

Another great option for younger children or visual learners is to display the books by colour. This is a good option to spark the interest of little ones that need more encouragement to read, or kids that learn in a visual way. By displaying books by colour, you are also teaching your child about the colour wheel!

Organize by genre

Another way to organize your bookshelf is by genre. This is a good idea for older children who have a more defined reading preference, whether that is picture books, adventure, poetry, or mystery. This way your child will start to learn what a genre is, and can cultivate a sense of what kind of books they like to read. If they really love the library, this is a great way to bring the feeling of the library home!

Organize alphabetically

Rather than organizing books by genre, you can organize your child’s books alphabetically. Just like organizing by genre or colour, this is a learning opportunity to teach your child the alphabet! You can even make labels for your bookshelves by genre or by letter of the alphabet to keep it easy to understand for your little one.

Choosing the right books

There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating an at home book collection for your child. When choosing kids books that will work for your child, again consider their age, interests and learning style. A great idea is to consult your local library or ask your child’s teacher for advice and suggestions. The following are some examples of types of classic kids books that are suitable for different age groups.

Infants and toddlers

For infants and toddlers, keep it simple with board books. Specifically designed for infants and toddlers, board books are durable and are made from hard paper board or cardboard. Board books not only have a hard cover, but have the same hard thickness throughout. This is the best option for babies and toddlers who can get messy or might rip the pages.

Ages 2-6 years

For ages two to six years old, picture books are a great option. This is because this age group is still developing their basic cognitive skills, and are learning how to connect symbols to simple concepts. When reading picture books with your child, they can listen to the story and connect it to the images on the pages.

Ages 4-6 years

Once children reach kindergarten, you can start to introduce picture books with more text. Picture books with more text (called readers) are great for teaching children how to read by themselves and will help them to develop their cognitive skills. Your child can become a more independent and confident reader if they are encouraged to read in this way.

7-12 years old

When children reach 2nd until 6th grade, you can start to introduce juvenile fiction, juvenile non-fiction, comic books and magazines. This is a great way to introduce your child to chapter books or biographies that are for their reading level and have appropriate subject matter for their age group.

We hope that this guide to setting up a kids bookshelf is helpful for you to reimagine your child’s at home library and will inspire a love of reading (or the willingness to pick up a book). Picking the right bookshelf and books, as well as figuring out the best way to display and organize your child’s bookshelf can be made easier with these simple tricks.

Looking for some fun book accessories? Check out how to make these cute oragami dog bookmarks here.

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