Reading is one of life’s most important skills. Readers enjoy a huge advantage as they hoover up information and can put it to use in their careers, relationships, finances and more! So, we went out to find 10 ideas that could help you help your kids enjoy reading throughout their lives.
Make sure books are part of everyday life at home.
Children won’t get into reading if they have no role models to follow. Make sure there are books always around the home and make sure that you take at least 10 minutes a day to read with your children.
Join the local library.
Libraries are a brilliant resource and not just for books – they often lend DVDs, Blu-Rays, computer games, too and have wonderful children’s activities. Joining is free and a library can give a lifetime of value to your little one!
Read what they want to read.
I hated being forced to read things I wasn’t interested in at school. I’ve read plenty of Shakespeare as a grown up but at school, I didn’t want to know. Let your child choose their reading material, don’t try and force them to read what you think they should read. Then they’ll enjoy reading rather than resent it.
All reading is good reading.
There is no such thing as bad reading material for a child. It doesn’t have to be a book. Graphic novels are often a big hit as are comic strips. But non-fiction, magazines, and even leaflets all count. The idea is to train the brain to read not to worry about what’s being read. I loved comics as a child and I’ve turned out just fine (I think).
Make a comfortable space to read.
Reading should be fun and in order for it to be fun, you need to be comfy to read. So, curl up on the couch, tuck yourself under a blanket, buy a beanbag, sprawl on the floor, whatever it takes for you and your little ones to feel great before you dive into a book.
Talk about the books you read.
If you want reading to be more than passive absorption, talk about the books that you read and that your children read. Ask questions, find out what made a particular story a great story for them. Get them to speculate on what will happen next. Live the books, don’t just read them.
Read whenever you have time.
You don’t need hours to read. This is doubly true for comics and graphic novels. A few minutes here and a few minutes there can easily chip away at the largest of novels. Carry your books with you and use your time wisely!
Don’t be afraid to read their favorites many times over.
A great story is worth re-telling, you don’t need to be on the constant search for something new. Re-reading helps children learn a higher level of reading fluency and helps them gain confidence with words!
Make bedtime stories a thing.
Spending time with kids is always good but making bedtime a time to look forward to is magical. You get to spend time with them and they learn a valuable life skill and you both have fun. Wins all round!
Enjoy rhyme and repetition.
Poetry may have lost its shine for most adults, but rhymes are brilliant for helping kids learn new words and getting them to remember them too!
So, there you go 10 easy tips for helping your kids get more from reading and for you all to have fun while doing so!
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