Some children take naturally to books, enjoying them from the first moment they learn how to read. Other children hate doing it and can’t be persuaded to pick up a book, even with threats or promises of reward. How can you encourage your child to read?
1. Make sure they know how. It’s not unusual, in a classroom of 25-30 children, for one to slip through the cracks. Take a few moments and have your child read to you. See if they are having difficulty or if they do it well. If they don’t know more than five words on the page, that book is too hard for them, and you should find them a slightly easier book.
2. Find something they like to read. I never was a fan of Captain Underpants and didn’t let my children check out the books from the library. One day my husband took the children and they came home with the entire series. I sighed. Underpants just aren’t my favorite thing. But the kids loved the books, even my own reluctant reader. He will pick up one of the books and read it on his own, without my telling him to, and he enjoys it. And you know what – the books are actually pretty funny. So find something that gets your child interested. If they don’t want to read about dogs, don’t make them read about dogs. Find something that appeals to them personally.
3. Read to them. This might seem like odd advice, when you’re trying to get your child to read to you. But if you create happy memories associated with reading, they will want to do it, and reading to your child is a way of telling them you love them. Even when they get a little older, your children will appreciate the time you’ve spent with them.
4. Let them see you read. We’ve talked about this a bit already, but I can’t emphasize enough how important the parents’ example is.
5. If all of these tips don’t work, try setting up a reward system. It doesn’t have to be glamorous, maybe just renting a special movie or going on an outing they’d like. Work out a chart with your child. Set reasonable goals that your child feels they can reach.
Who can even begin to measure the worth of having a child who loves to read? They will be smarter, do better in school, have more confidence, and have a better understanding of the world around them. With proper guidance from you, your child can unlock the door to their future with the key of reading.
Related Blogs:
Visiting the Library, Reading to Children