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How can I encourage my kids to read? One of the most important skill that kids should learn for them to become successful at school and just generally in their young lives is reading. Why? Simple. It’s because it’s one of the pre – requisites to understanding the world they live in. How can I encourage my kids to read?
In a school setting, most of the children’s learning is done from reading the instructions of their teachers, or the topics they need to learn from and work on. This is why the capability to read is very important. After all, if your kid can’t read, then how can it write or even understand the simplest instructions and questions presented to them? The better a child can read, the easier it will be for them to learn. And speaking of learning, this article will answer your question, how can I encourage my kids to read?
A Child – Like Approach
How can I encourage my kids to read? There are many ways to push your kid/s to read. Keep in mind though that they are still young, so if you want to encourage them in reading, it all boils down to having a friendly “child – like approach.” It basically means that it has to be fun, enjoyable and entertaining. Make sure to choose fun reading games, or have reading exercises while you’re driving them or walking them to school, or whenever you’re out and about. That way, you’re sort of like sugar – coating the proverbial reading medicine into something fun. It’s all about edutainment these days!
Reasons to Encourage Your Kids in Reading
Reading Develops Cognitive Abilities
How can I encourage my kids to read? Reading will develop the mental processing abilities of your child. It will make them creative, imaginative and it can also help them develop problem – solving skills, logical thinking, and/or analyzing the complex world around them. Reading develops your child’s ability to dream BIG!
Reading Makes Your Kid Have Better Communication Skills
In addition to the interaction they have with you during reading time, your kid will also develop his/ her ability to communicate well. This is especially true if you are reading them stories with characters in it. They’ll be able to observe the interactions happening in the story. It’s also a good time to strengthen bond with your kid as you spend quality time with him or her. Many kids as they get older usually have fond memories of their parents reading to them.
Reading Will Make Your Kids Smarter
The more your kid reads, the more he/she learns. And the more they learn, the more they become smarter. As simple as that! Wouldn’t you want that for your child?
Reading Relaxes the Mind
How can I encourage my kids to read? Whenever you’re reading, one thing that it does is it relaxes one’s mind. It’s because the act of reading is all about silence and slowing down. It also enhances your kid’s ability to focus on the topic they’re reading about. When the brain slows down, your kid will develop the habit of calming down and relaxation just like meditation.
Reading Will Make Your Child More Focused and Disciplined
Reading comprehension is like hitting three birds with one stone; when your child gets into the habit of reading, he/she will not only become smarter but also more focused and disciplined. That’s because reading comes with better memory retention, longer attention span and self – discipline. These are great foundations for learning.
Tips on How to Encourage Your Kids to Read
You Have to Read Too
How can I encourage my kids to read? It all starts in you. If kids see their parents read, they will most likely do the same. Monkey see, monkey do.
Provide Reading Materials around the House
Make sure to have reading materials for enjoyment as well as for reference.
Encourage Your Kid to Read Out Loud
Make sure to listen whenever he/ she read. Praise them whenever they’re reading. And most importantly engage them into discussions about the book or story they just read.
Do Activities that Require Reading
You might want to set up activities wherein reading will be required while they’re also having fun. This may include building a Lego wherein they will need to read instructions, or reading signs while you’re out and about.
Encourage Conversations with Your Kids
Talking to kids will help them expand their vocabularies. You can also ask them to tell stories from their own experiences or describe certain events.
Give Your Kids Opportunities to Read and Write
Every writer is a reader. That’s because reading and writing go together. Eventually, your kid will also need to learn how to write, but before they can do that, they must first know how to read. Reading is pre – requisite to writing. Make sure to always make pencils, crayons, and paper available at all times, so that your child will be more inclined to do some writing activities.
Visit the Library or a Book Store Once a Week
Have your child apply for her own library card so she can check out books on her own for schoolwork and for pleasure reading. Ask your child to bring home a library book to read to a younger sibling and encourage her to check out books on tape that she can listen to on long car trips.
In Summary
How can I encourage my kids to read? If you want to encourage reading in kids, it all starts with you as a parent. You need to do your part to ensure that your child has a strong foundation in literacy and communication. If you do it right, and start them young, it will be much easier for them later on when learning becomes more complex at school. Keep in mind that you should not also overemphasize the process of learning to read. You want to make it fun for your kids and let them understand the value in reading so that they will practice by themselves even without you telling them to do so. Reading for pleasure and interest will help your kid develops reading comprehension abilities and will give your child the opportunity to practice these skills in meaningful ways.
