The Benefits of a Front-Facing Bookshelf for Kids

Let's take a second to talk about books. Such a simple thing, right? We read them to our kids every night before bed, set up bookish play in the afternoon, and try our best to read them regularly. But do you really know how important books are for our growing children?

Here's a statistic that says it all: if you read your child 5 books a day for the first 5 years of their life, they'll be exposed to 1.4 million more words than children who aren't read to. Reading is so important for our kids — it:

• strengthens relationships
• promotes brain development and imagination
• improves literacy, language and emotional skills
• improves concentration, focus and quality of sleep

Our problem wasn't books — it was storage

We'd always had a decent stash of books, but nowhere decent to store them. My son would reach for a book on the tiny shelf on his drawers, give up because it was too hard to get the one he wanted, and move on to something else.

Once I found the JoyKids JORY 5 front-facing bookshelf, I told my husband this was what was missing in our home — and it truly is one of the best things we've added.

What we love about it

• holds so many books — up to 270!
• shelves are different heights to fit a variety of books
• slim-line design, perfect for smaller spaces
• simple to assemble, with shelves that hold books in place so they don't fall forward
• made from solid pinewood and genuinely beautiful

Because the books are front-facing, the kids get excited by what they see and feel the urge to read rather than asking for screen time. We put factual books up top for play setups and everyday reading books on lower shelves so the kids can pull them out whenever they like. My almost-two-year-old has her toddler books on the bottom shelves, so she has access too and doesn't feel left out.

It also promotes independence — the kids can access their books anytime, feel in control of what they read, and (my favourite part) put them back themselves. It's a good idea to rotate the books now and then so they're exposed to variety. And it's not just for books — think puzzles, animal figurines, colouring mats and other open-ended toys.

If you're looking to add an aesthetic yet incredibly beneficial piece to your home or playroom, look no further. (Curious how front-facing compares to a regular shelf? See our guide on front-facing vs. spine-out bookshelves.)

— By Jess