I have a young reader at home who doesn't want to miss his reading time any day. There have been many times when he is tired at night with drooping eyes, and I ask him to stop reading after few pages. But he insists on finishing the whole story first and then sleeping. However, this does not mean he dozes off as soon as he closes the book since what follows next is another few minutes of discussion. First of all, let me tell you that I am not a vivid reader. I just love to read, but only if I have ample time and you know what it means. But I started the reading routine for my son when he was around 2. He used to be very active all through the day and nights, making him sleep was such a tedious task for us. He wouldn't settle down that quickly. But when I say bedtime, instantly he would go grab a book, come and sit in my lap. He would love to listen to stories, turn pages, look at the pictures, touch and feel them. His love and bonding towards books started growing along with him. Nurturing a love of reading is a process that can last a lifetime. Here's a list of few things that I thought might be helpful for parents for raising/encouraging a little reader.
1. Start as early as possible
Start a reading routine as early as possible. You can even read when the baby is in the womb. But still, its never too late to read. You can start reading at any age, any stage. Choose age-appropriate books, keep them on your lap or snuggle with them. They would enjoy both the warmth and the story. For infants and toddlers, moving your finger along with the words as you read help them keep focused.
2. Let your child choose their book
One of the most interesting things about reading is the joy of picking a book that catches his/her eye. Let them look at the book cover or read the pages inside and select the book. This will help build their excitement and interest needed to read the book.
3. Keep the books accessible
Books should be reachable and accessible for them at any point of time. That way, as and when they cross the bookshelf or the place of the book, they will be attracted towards books. With a tiny chair or any reading table placed nearby, you would soon notice them grabbing up a book and sitting comfortably going through the pages. You can keep a set of books even in your car when going on a long journey
4. Read Aloud
Reading aloud with your child keeps them not only focused, also connects the reader and listener in a very intimate way. They may ask you read a particular sentence or a story itself over and over again, just go with it. Never be lazy to read them any number of times. Also reading aloud helps them learn the rhythm of the language and correct pronunciation.
5. Be expressive and use modulation
Make the story come alive. Create distinctive voices for the characters in a story, and use appropriate modulation at right time. The way you modulate your voice stimulates a response in your child and this is what pulls them into the story. Encourage him/her to participate too. They would love mimicking the story.
6. Set a routine
During the early days of reading, setting a reading time and sticking onto it regularly will help the child. Mostly a routine before bedtime will work for most of the kids. Find one that works best for you and your child.
7. Encourage your child to talk about the book
Involve your child as you read. Ask them questions like what will happen next, how a character might be feeling, or how the book makes them feel. Let your child take his/her own time to respond. Encourage your child's questions and explanations too. Allow your child to retell the story. By discussing the story, you help them develop literacy skills.
8. Visit a library as and when possible
Take your kids to the library whenever possible. Regular library visits inevitably lead to more reading. When you visit the library, you can expose your children to more books and magazines. A child feels more trustworthy and responsible when he owns a library card. Also, make regular outings to your local bookstore or hunt for low-cost books at used bookstores or second-hand shops, and show kids that finding a good book is like a treasure hunt. Keep adding more and more books to their collection.
9. Don't reward with reading
Never tell your child he/she can listen to a story only if she finishes the dinner. When reading is associated with systems of reward and punishment, it isn't a positive experience for them. Children develop reading habits at their own pace. Also, when we say reading, it doesn't mean just books. Reading a newspaper or even a pamphlet is also reading. So as parents, we need to understand that anything that children read is alright, as long as they are making an effort to read. Hope these tips come in handy for parents who are looking for ways to instill the habit of reading in their children.
Good luck, raising a reader!
P.S Thank you for going through my article. I am sure there are many other tips too that you would have come across; I would love to hear about the other ways too. Kindly share them in the comments section below!