Improve reading culture in your child
We are in the era of massive technological development, and as such almost everything can be done simply by pressing a button. With the emergence of eBooks and the likes, hardcover books are becoming ‘old school’ for young ones. The importance of reading in general cannot be over emphasised, but reading hardcopy books is important […]
We are in the era of massive technological development, and as such almost everything can be done simply by pressing a button. With the emergence of eBooks and the likes, hardcover books are becoming ‘old school’ for young ones. The importance of reading in general cannot be over emphasised, but reading hardcopy books is important for the development of the child. Here are a few tips to get your child to read more.
Lead by example: You cannot encourage your children to read when you do not read yourself. Your children are more likely to read if they see you reading regularly. It is also important that you provide enough reading materials for all the children in your house. Frequent reading of books sets you as good role model and will certainly prompt your children to adopt a reading culture.
Create a conducive atmosphere: Create a comfortable reading spot or room that will entice your children. Just the act of creating special reading space can take away the distractions and help your child focus on reading. Also, it is a good idea to minimise TV time and to free your child from some house chores so that he can spend adequate time reading.
Read together: To encourage your child to read from a young age, take the time to read to him every day. Let your child see the words you are reading to him so he can gradually build a vocabulary and mastery of words. Assist them with their school work; let them see that you are interested. As your child grows older, encourage him to read aloud for you to hear. Let them sit beside you while you read a newspaper.
Respect your child’s interests: One of the best ways to encourage your child to read is to allow him to pick out books that interest him/her. The goal is to encourage your child to develop a habit of reading; as long as what he is reading is not offensive, allow him to get on with it. Reading interests change over time as they mature. Encourage them to participate in whatever reading and spelling competitions interest them.