10 Best Ways to Encourage Your Child to Fall in Love with Reading
Do you want your daughter or son to be:
Well-behaved;
Out-of-the-box thinkers;
Well-rounded;
Have a vivid imagination;
Know how to keep any conversation going?
These are the qualities most devoted readers have.
Did you know that by reading your kids daily, they will have heard almost 300 000 words by the age of 5? For comparison, the kids whose parents read them every other month hear only 4500 words. These are the findings of the researchers from Ohio State University. According to Jessica Logan, the lead author of the study, the number of words heard can influence reading and vocabulary development. It turns out, that the more you read to your kids, the easier it'll be for them to start reading independently. Interestingly, according to another research in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, children tend to read more when they face no difficulties in it. See how everything is connected? But what to do, if your kid doesn't like reading? And what actions to take to instill the love of reading if your kid is only a baby? There're 10 proven ways to bring up a bookworm. Here they're.
How to Raise a Reader?
The true love of reading occurs only when a child does it for fun. If he reads only recommended literature for students, that's not what we're talking about. True book-lovers can read with a flashlight under a blanket. For many people, it's an unforgettable childhood experience: finishing a page-turner with a flashlight after mom's goodnight. However, according to federal data, the number of U.S. children aged 9-13 who read for fun has dropped dramatically since the 1980-s, being at the lowest rate in 2020. Unless you want your child to be among them, resort to the following methods.
Be a Good Reader Yourself
Kids copy their parents' behavior. If you often read in front of them, most likely siblings will ask you to buy them a book too. You may initiate book shopping, letting kids choose books on their own. Schedule a family time for reading to get busy with looking through new literature. Read together with kids if they find a book heavy-going. Talk about literature, share with kids your impressions, and ask about their thoughts.
Take Turns
Read out loud to each other, taking turns. If a kid cannot read yet, ask him to show letters or words he knows. For older kids, it would be enough to read a sentence. In case a child can read well, each of you can read a page or even a chapter. Don't forget to ask about his impressions. Besides, encourage him to foresee the outcomes. It develops logical thinking.
Create a Reading Zone
A cozy area in your home facilitates kids' efforts to give up playing to read a book. Let your daughter or son do it up, bring favorite toys, and arrange everything to their liking. They can also hang a poster on the wall to keep a record of the literature they are done with. One more option is to create a waitlist of the books they want to read in the future.
Surround Your Kid with a Book
One book isn't enough to grasp a child's attention. He may dislike even dozens of books, but there's always a gripping story to hook him from the start. No one knows which one it's. So, buy many books and place them throughout the house so that it's easy to take them. Sooner or later, a kid will open it and, perhaps, become a book lover.
YouTube Read Alouds
You already know that children hear many new words when reading to them. Besides, scientists from the University of Melbourne have found that the intellectual level of 5-years-old kids is equal to 5 ½-years-old provided that they are listening to books six days a week. Yet, what to do if you're running out of time? A great alternative is YouTube Read alouds. There're many breathtaking channels with amazing content. By the way, you can look through the collection of the best YouTube channels to follow.
Make Reading a Daily Routine
Create a habit to read every day. Bedtime stories may be a great ritual. Don't forget about it on weekends. Be sure to put away smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets that distract kids from reading. Don't miss any single day. Try to read every day for two months. Thus, you will create a habit.
Diversity
Don't insist on reading only one genre. Maybe your son would prefer non-fiction literature to storybooks. Also, buy comics and kid magazines. One day they are supposed to find the very book that will take their attention.
Don't Avoid Picture Books
You may think that books with colorful illustrations are for toddlers only. But it's not so. First, pictures develop a sense of aesthetics. Second, it provides both of you with a topic for conversation. Discuss what an artist wanted to express through his painting.
Read in Different Settings
As soon as your kid is still young, read him out loud in different places. If it's a story about forest fairies, go to the forest and find a big tree to sit comfortably near it. Or, head on to a theme park to read your kids' fantasy books.
Start from an Early Days
There's no certain time point since which your little one begins comprehending the stories you read to him. You should read to your baby even if he is 6-months-old. This helps kids to become accustomed to the voice, reading manner, and the book itself. One day they'll understand the whole story completely.
Conclusion
People who love reading are successful in life. They are more educated and look for better opportunities, ensuring their well-being and happiness. Teach your little ones to read every day even if it's not so popular nowadays. They'll definitely benefit from it.
YOU ARE READING
Tips & Tricks
De TodoHow to write children's stories? Comment écrire des histoires pour enfants? Wie schreibe ich eine Kindergeschichte? ¿Cómo escribir ficción para niños?
