Do you want your child to love books? It’s a goal many parents have, because truthfully, everyone should be reading a little more often. Since most readers develop a love of literature when they’re younger, it’s effective to encourage a love of books from the moment your child is able to read (sometimes even before!). Here are some tips to help you encourage a love of reading in your child.
Read Together (but separately)
When kids show an interest in reading, you can very easily encourage it by reading yourself. Show them that reading is a fun thing to do on a regular basis and they’ll follow along. You don’t need to host a storytime session every time. Try reading together, but separately, instead. If you’re not sure what that means, grab a book for you and a book for. your child, then sit down together and each read your own book. This way you’re reading together while still reading independently. You can still interact (cuddle, chat, eat snacks) as you’re sitting in the same space. This is a lovely way to enjoy a half hour or more with your child, and they’re likely to find these moments very warm and loving, as well.
Listen to Them Read Out Loud
This is where you can pick up any issues they’re having with reading and comprehension. Listen attentively, praise them for getting through the bigger paragraphs, and let them enjoy the nature of communal reading. If they stumble over a word or two, let them work it out at their own pace, and encourage them to keep going. Word stumbles can occur when children are faced with new or unfamiliar words, and better word recognition comes with more practice.
However, if you do notice that the more your child reads, the more ‘mistakes’ they seem to make, it could be a sign that they find language rules a little bit difficult. Maybe they seem to be struggling to grasp the way Magic E and Silent E Words work, or they’re finding hard vowel sounds very difficult. This is your chance to spot the problem and help to prevent it from becoming an issue down the line.
Make Sure Reading Stays a Choice
Keep your reading time unstructured- read for a few minutes a day or in different locations so it doesn't always seem like a chore or a forced assignment. Allow kids the freedom to choose their own books, visit libraries and bookshops, and let them take pride in their own choices. They will be much more willing to read for enjoyment if they have a say in what they are reading. Reading should be something your child turns to because they want to, and you can still positively reinforce this choice along the way. Make sure there are always books to read, talk about books, and keep reading in front of them.
Bookworms can take time to develop, but your child can become one if you demonstrate a love of reading, too.
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