Before you became parents, you probably imagined your children being excited for school, ready to learn, loving education and reading. But the reality is, many kids don't love to read or have a passion for education. But there are some quick tips I can share to help get your kids on the road to loving literature! A love of reading starts at home, and you can certainly be the key to its beginning.
photo via Unsplash, M. Parzuchowski
Opt for an Audiobook
Believe it or not, audiobooks are a great way to develop a love of reading, and they are a fun way for kids to practice fluency. Hearing someone read a book fluently or confidently can be a great way for your child to pick up on this habit. If you can swap out music in the car for an audiobook, they'll be learning skills without even realizing it. Audio Books not only help with fluency, but they also help reading comprehension skills and listening skills, too. There are so many choices available for audiobooks and even sets you can borrow from your local library. Grab a fun pair of headphones and kids can have some private time with their audio books, too.
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| photo via Unsplash, B. Mullins |
Show Them Reading is Fun
Children get many of their reading cues from adults. If they see you enjoying a book or reading magazines and newspapers, they will often follow suit. If you can, make sure that your kids see you reading and that you talk to them about the book, too. Point out something that reminds you of the story so they can see you making real-life connections to what you've read. Sometimes it's fun to read the same book together, so you can talk about different parts of the story or predict what's coming next.
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| photo via Unsplash, J. Muniz |
Theme It
A quiet and cozy corner filled with books is so important. Kids really love forts, so take two chairs and then drape a blanket over them to create your own. Now you have a Book Nook! Creating a 'reading den' is fun and something you can do as a family. Consider having a beach theme where you have beach towels on the floor, a beach umbrella against the wall, and even sand buckets to house the books of your choosing. When you do this, you will soon find that you can help your child to make the most out of their experience. Other things you can do include having a rainforest theme, a spaceship theme or even a pirate cove theme. But it doesn't have to be complex. Sometimes just bringing a flashlight under a blanket fort to read is a fun experience, too.
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| photo via Unsplash, P. Chiabrando |
Bring Books to Life
Try to find some book-inspired activities. For example, if you're reading a book about farm animals, then find a local farm to visit afterwards so your children can make real-life connections. If you are reading a book about outer-space, then why not visit a planetarium? Connecting books to real-life really helps to develop a love of literacy, and helps to spark curiosity and imagination.
Celebrate Different Authors
There are so many wonderful childrens' writers that kids can learn about, like Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Dav Pilkey, Jan Brett, and so many more. If you find that your child likes books by a certain author, see if you can make a checklist of the author's books, and make a goal to read them all! Some authors even visit local libraries and bookstores, or have websites where kids can write to them or interact. Older readers might enjoy trying to read all of the books in an author's series. It's challenging and fun to see what our favorite authors are up to next!
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| photo via Unsplash, J. Applegate |
Watch the Movie
Choose a classic book that you know has been turned into a movie, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. You can read a few chapters at a time along with the movie or before it. After you finish the book, you can have a family movie night and watch the film version. This is a great way for you to motivate readers who may be somewhat reluctant. After the movie, see if you can find some online printables to coincide with it. It's easy to download some themed vocabulary, comprehension, and even multiplication worksheets, too. Many kids enjoy completing themed worksheets or completing activities or assignments connected to the movie.
Hide Books Everywhere
Surrounding your kids with a range of books at a very early age can help get them hooked. Put out a seasonal book bin or books about upcoming holidays. Put some books in the bathroom, the car, your purse and even in the kitchen (board books that you can clean work best here!). There are even waterproof books for the tub. If your child gets bored waiting on line or in a restaurant, consider handing them a fun book to read instead of a tech device or toy.
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| photo via Unsplash, B. Applegate |
Read Aloud
Reading aloud is an educational experience, for the listener as well as the reader! Listening gives tired readers a break, and can be relaxing before bedtime. Reading aloud helps develop fluency and comprehension skills. If you're the one reading aloud to your child, try adding some funny voices when characters speak, and be sure to read with expression! Modeling how to read aloud is so important, and will remind children to add inflection and tone to their words, instead of reading aloud like a robot.
Visit a Library
If you have a local library, then why not use it? Libraries are a paradise for kids who love to read. Check out books and see what kind of activities might be going on. Libraries usually host fun story times and experiences for children. It's exciting for children to have their own library cards and be able to use them at the front desk. Libraries also expose kids to different kinds of books- from picture books to audio books, so give them plenty of time to explore and see all of the wonders that a library has to offer!
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| photo via Unsplash, Sincerely Media |
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