Boost Your Child’s Reading Habits: A Fool-Proof Guide
Reading is a fun and interesting activity that is a big part of every child’s learning and development. It engages them to enhance their verbal and listening skills. It gives them an opportunity to apply what they have learned. Unfortunately, not all kids share the same excitement for reading. If you feel that no amount of prodding and nagging is working, read on for our fool-proof guide to encourage your child to read!
Discover your child’s passions.
Empower your child by allowing him/her to choose topics and subjects that he/she best relates to. As the student matures, cultivate her growing interest in school subjects such as music, art, and science. Observe what attracts her attention, whether it is pictures, shapes, or colors. Then, build on that interest and commit to them.
Read with them.
It is important to teach kids how books are held and how to follow text from left to right and from top to bottom when reading. You may also read the words aloud to better help them remember the sounds for proper enunciation. Before bedtime, reread their favorite stories and engage them to act out some parts as the plot progresses. Your guidance and enthusiasm will surely encourage your child to read with much success.
Introduce challenging topics.
Many children are reluctant to read simply because some books are too difficult for their reading level. You can start by slowly introducing books that arouse his curiosity and imagination. Introduce a new list of vocabulary every day that could be useful in different daily scenarios. Many kids are competitive so you could use a reward system for when they complete a chapter or a whole book.
Keep various materials at home.
Reading at home can help your child learn at his own pace. Have materials ready for when he is in the mood to start reading. Second-hand books are readily available at bargain bookshops at a very affordable cost. Furthermore, consider providing learning materials that are brightly colored, like flashcards or posters, to easily attract the student’s attention.
Use technology efficiently.
Some children may feel intimidated by the mere sight of hard-bound books. Good news! Electronic books are now widely accessible and they offer an efficient, low-cost alternative to encourage your child to read! For kids, technology makes everything cooler and more interesting. Therefore, take advantage of technology to keep them fascinated.
Expand the reading experience.
Do not limit your child’s reading experience within your home. Extend her understanding outside by incorporating educational activities such as visiting museums or going on field trips to gain real-life familiarity with the various things she reads about. This is a surefire way to pique interest and to provide the motivation to explore ‘out of bounds’. Moreover, this will also expand social horizons, as there will be an interaction between other children and adults.
In conclusion, the key way to encourage your child to read is to set your time aside specifically for this purpose. Show some initiative and you’ll be happy with the results. A child needs to know there is no right or wrong in reading, but only pleasure and an opportunity to expand knowledge.