Reading is a very enjoyable pastime and it is also one of those hobbies that is not only a lot of fun, it also helps widen a person’s knowledge. Unfortunately, because of television, computers and video games, fewer and fewer children are getting into reading as a hobby, much more a passion. This is an alarming trend, because reading is not just a hobby, it can actually help children do well in school and a love for reading means more opportunities for them to learn new things and acquire new information that will help them not just scholastically but also in other aspects of their lives.
As adults, the responsibility of turning our kids into reading is ours. That’s why reading should be encouraged as much as possible. But there are parents, teachers or relatives who do not know how to introduce reading to kids. Some think that giving them a book is enough. This couldn’t be more wrong. Here are some tips to help you turn kids into reading:
Be a role model
Studies show that parents who love to read have kids who also read as a hobby. The reason for this is simple, kids will emulate the adults that they constantly interact with. If they see their parents deeply engrossed in something they’re reading, they’ll see that reading is enjoyable and will try to follow them. This is probably the best way to turn kids to reading.
Build a home library
Build a small library at home. It doesn’t have to be a huge one. Even a bookcase filled with books is enough. A majority of children who grow up to be voracious readers lived in homes that had a wide variety of books and magazines available to them. Make sure your bookcase offers a wide range of books. Mix up the genres so they can have a sample of different types of writing.
Make reading fun
Reading should be seen as a fun activity and not as a chore. Make it fun for your kids by thinking of different reading activities for them. A reading night is a great way of subtly pushing your kids to read. Make an event of your reading night by preparing their favorite snacks and offering hot chocolate as you all read a book of your choice. You can do either of two things – read a book to your kids. You can even try to act out the story to keep their interest. Another variation of the reading night is to choose a book for yourself and letting your child a choose a book he wants to read. You can then exchange lines of passage that you like. If you’ve already read the book then you can casually quiz him about it.
Image from childrentoday.com