It is said that the world is divided into two types of children, those who read and those who never found the right book to begin with. Igniting a love for reading within your kids is one of the best things you can do for them and for yourself. After all, a child who is reading will be too busy to get into trouble! But how do you go about raising a reader in today’s technologically driven world?
Books everywhere!
Fill their lives with books. Keep books by their bedside table, and get them their own bookshelf and fill it with books. By making books accessible to them, they can pick one up at any time and flip through the pages. When they pick the right book that interests them, they will be hooked.
Reading role model
Children copy the adults in their lives. What you do, they do! So, ditch the phone and tablet, and pick up a book and read yourself. When your child sees you reading, they will be curious and more likely to pick up a book and read as well.
Read aloud
From when your child is a newborn, read aloud to them. You will be surprised about how much of what you read to them, even at that age, sticks with them long after. Pick a variety of books and make sure to read to them every single day. When they are learning to read themselves, read aloud along with them. Be patient, and help them when they stumble. After all practice makes perfect.
Kid’s choice
You might have some ideas about what your child should be reading, but allow them to discover what interests them. Take them to the bookstore and library, let them browse and pick out their own books. As long as it is age appropriate, let them explore books from different genres and develop a love for reading.
Read, repeat
When your child is young, they might want you to read the same book to them over and over at bedtime. As boring as it may be for you, don’t try to steer them towards some other book. Young children thrive on and learn from repetition. Eventually they will move on to another book. Till then, hang in there.
Make reading fun
It’s only in the first few years of your child’s life that they will want you to read to them, so make it fun. Snuggle in at bedtime and read a book out loud. Do the voices of all the characters, get expressive and make reading time special. As they grow older and start to read themselves, create a cozy reading nook, a space where your child can read and relax. Make reading a pleasure, not a chore.
A child who reads will never be bored. Their horizons will be broadened, and the habit will serve them well throughout their lives. By putting in a little work during their formative years, you can raise your child to be a great reader, who is passionate about books.