I hope I’ve convinced you what a vital, important thing it is to be literate. If not, let me know and I’ll keep working on it. But assuming that you are convinced, or that you didn’t need convincing in the first place, you may be wondering what you can do to help promote literacy in your own sphere. Here are some suggestions.
1. Read as often as you can. This will not only keep you abreast of the trends in literature, but your example will carry on to others.
2. Read to your children and have them read to you. Studies have shown that a child learns more quickly in a loving environment.
3. When you read a good book, recommend it to a friend. That will set the example for your friend and help them to find worthwhile reading material.
4. Go volunteer your time at a school. You can be a great help to the teachers as you read to the children or tutor them in reading.
5. Volunteer to tutor at your local library or community center, many of which have literacy programs. When you sign up to volunteer, you are trained in what to do, so there’s no need to feel that you need a lot of experience.
6. If you feel a book was really well done, go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and leave a review. Others will see that review and be more inclined to give the book a try, knowing that you found it interesting.
7. Give books as Christmas and birthday gifts, or give gift certificates to bookstores. Often, people feel guilty buying books for themselves. You can help take away that guilt!
As you spread the love of literacy to all you know, you’ll be helping them become more educated, more articulate, and more ready to face whatever life has to offer. That’s a pretty wonderful gift, don’t you think?