Tips for Encouraging Children to Read

Now that we are all aware of some of the many benefits of reading we post the question, “How do you get your child to enjoy reading?”

Parents who start early trying to get their kids to read have greater success of their children being inclined to reading. They are many things that you can do that will promote good reading habits. Here are a few suggestions;

Tips for Encouraging Children to Read Ages 1 - 9

1. Read to your children from the earliest stage possible. Start with books with lots of pictures and graduate to more developed reading. Choose interesting books that have your kids asking to read more
2. Make reading a daily or weekly family tradition, switch to reading “with” them as they learn their letters, guiding them along with positive reinforcement
3. Before exciting episodes in the story ask, “What do you think will happen?” “Where did the monster disappear to?” Children love guessing.
4. Encourage fun reading exercises such as games reading road signs and billboards.
5. Visit libraries. Let you kids choose their own books. Get them their own library card and take them to exchange the books they’ve read for new ones.
6. Set a good example. Read regularly in their presence, this shows them the importance of reading and that it is enjoyable.

Tips for Encouraging your Children to Read Ages 10 - Teenager

1. Give your child the responsibility of reading the grocery list and getting the items for the cart. This not only encourages reading but teaches responsibility.
2. Keep family book readings a tradition; give everyone a chance to read a chapter aloud.
3. Keep book discussions open and fun. If it feels like school, change the approach. Don’t force them if they would rather keep reading rather than discuss.
4. Ask them questions that will encourage them to think, for example “Is this character brave enough to fight?” Get the child to think about the character as described in book.
5. Try role playing with family members assigning every child a character to read. This will teach them about role playing help with visualization of characters.
6. Start a family news paper. Let everyone be involved in its production. You will build precious memories, help your children to develop their creativity, and the newspapers, will always bring tons of fun later, when your kids are grown.

We hope that these suggestions have been helpful in your quest for children who love to read. It’s tough for books and your own imagination to compete with surround sound movies, action packed video games and toys that can do just about anything.

Just keep in mind that you cannot force someone to love reading you can only plant the seed of habitual reading early and let it take its course.

The Importance of Reading

Despite the statistics, the reading literacy rates in Trinidad and Tobago are lower than expected. Today children don’t seem to have much zest or enthusiasm for reading, they are more inclined to TV shows, and action-packed video games.

Maybe tight schedules and busy lives don’t allow us the luxury of spare time needed to enjoy reading or our computerized and electronic world has taken away readings thunder.
The significance of this reading disinterest hit me this morning when I was discussing a school outing to the Logos Foating Library that the kids went on last semester.

Logos Hope, as you may know, is a floating book fair operated by the non-profit organization GBA Ships based in Mosbach, Germany. The ship have travelled all around the world to as many as 158 countries promoting world-wide education, cooperation, aid relief, social awareness and a personal relationship with God.

Amazed by the Logos, I was excitably discussing that I loved to read and how amazing this phenomenal floating library was with its range of affordable books. One of the children responded, “What is so exciting about reading?”
Floored, I thought to myself, “Wow this child does not see the importance and excitement of reading!”

However, I was not too surprised as most of the habits we have formed do not exactly encourage the reading bug to spread.

Here are just a few benefits of reading:

5 Benefits of Reading:
1. Reading is an active mental process: Reading makes you use your brain. In the process you use the grey cells of your brain to think and become smarter.
2. Reading improves your vocabulary: While reading books, especially challenging ones, you are exposed to many new words.
3. Improves concentration and focus: Reading requires you to focus for long periods. Since you must concentrate in order to read, with practise you will get better at concentration.
4. Builds self-esteem: The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds self-esteem.
5. Improves creativity: Reading about the diversity of life and exposing yourself to new ideas and information helps to develop the creative side of the brain as it introduces innovation into your thinking process.

These are just a few of the many benefits of regular reading.
Look out for upcoming blogs on reading and literacy and feel free to contact KIND at 626 –KIND(5463) for more information.