There’s a Facebook trend making the rounds asking users to list ten books that have affected them. Each time I scan someone else’s list, I am reminded of great books I have loved and I've mentally added to my list of ten a hundred times. Books have the power to change our lives and to impact us in so many ways. So, how can a busy parent raising kids in the age of technology ensure their kids will develop a lifelong love of reading?
Straight from the teacher's desk, here are my top ten tips on how to raise a reader:
Familiar rhymes and songs have a tremendous effect on the early learner’s brain and help set the stage for competent reading. You will be surprised at how quickly the young mind picks up on the cadence of the words — even better if you put a tune to it. There’s a reason most preschoolers love singing Happy Birthday — rhyme and repetition make it instantly familiar, and that makes kids feel like experts.
There is no baby too young to benefit from having books read aloud to them, perhaps even while they are in utero. When your kids are little, read to them every day and keep reading to your kids long after they learn to read themselves. It’s wonderful for older kids to hear proficient reading modelled, and you can expose them to amazing stories that are outside their current reading level. Find time to share books together as often as you can.
I think a lot of kids turn on reading because they are “forced” to read books they are not interested in. How many of you despise a few of the novels you had to read in high school? Let kids read the books that they really want to read. If every book they pick up is about hockey, or they only want to read about Pokémon, so be it. Comics are good, books based on movies are engaging and Captain Underpants makes kids laugh. If children get to choose for themselves, they are more likely to enjoy reading.
Be a reader to get a reader. Let your kids see you read; whether it’s the newspaper, online articles or a recipe book. Have lots of books of many genres and for several age groups in your house. As always, actions speak louder than words.
It’s common for kids to become book lovers after getting hooked on series. There’s something magical about fostering a long-term relationship with a main character. Many a kid has devoted countless hours to Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or Greg Heffley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Series have a wonderful way of making the reader hungry for the next installment and having readers searching for the next great read once they finish the series.
Invite your kids to read and lead them through exposure. Take them to the bookstore and the library and suggest books they might enjoy. Turn off the screens for a while and encourage quieter playtime — but don’t make them read. Don’t set a hard fast “You must read for twenty minutes a day” rule — and please do not make them keep a reading log! Forcing the issue will only turn them off — encouraging, exposing and leading by example will always get a better result.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: never underestimate the power of a good conversation! Talk to your kids about what they are reading and about what you are reading. Talk to them about life, about TV, about your neighbour's cat — just talk. A child’s vocabulary grows rich through conversation, instilling a love of words. Ask questions and really listen to their answers.
Keep books in the car, in your family room, in the kids’ bedrooms. Let books be at their fingertips. f a bored kid sees a book, they’re likely to pick it up. Once the reading bug has bitten, our minds will read just about anything. That’s why we read ads on buses and the back of the cereal box — because it’s there. If you want your kid to read books, make sure they are available. And a book stashed in your bag is a great way to pass the time with your child on the subway, in a line or in a waiting room, without the irksome glow and ping of your cell phone.
It is great to read things more than once. Your little ones won’t tire of hearing a cherished story dozens of times. Encourage your older kids to reread the novels or series they loved. Rereading provides kids an opportunity to find things they may have missed the first time and to anticipate their favourite parts, building comfort in familiarity.
Every child develops at their own pace in their own way. Some may grasp the concept of reading early, but may take years to find books they truly love, while others may love books, but take a long time to figure out how to read them. My eldest brother was a notorious non-reader growing up. I think insistent pressure and “assigned” reading from school made the idea of reading for pleasure a foreign concept for him, but now he’s all grown up and always has a book on the go. Give them time, give them support and give them exposure — most kids will find their reading groove eventually.
Helping your kids master the art of reading is a long process, don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
If your child is struggling with the concept of reading, check out these tips and if you are looking for some great reads for any age, see this list.
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