Last week we identified the mental health benefits of reading for children. This week, we will discuss how to foster a love of reading in your children beginning at a young age.
Let’s break it down into five easy steps.
The New York Times article, “How to Raise a Reader” identifies a simple and important first step. “If you want to raise a reader, be a reader.” Have plenty of books around your home for both adults and children. Set specific time for your own reading and stay consistent with it. Young children are sponges who absorb everything adults do. Allow them to see you reading for enjoyment.
Step two, read out loud to your children every day. That’s right. Every. Day. With a newborn you can choose just about any book you want to read to your child. As children get older, you will start to pick up on their preferences. Introduce books you enjoyed as a child while being respectful of your child’s favorites. I’m fairly positive I read “Frog and Toad Together” to my daughter at least 200 times. Even though Frog and Toad books were some of my favorites as a child, I still got annoyed when every time we would sit down to read that’s what she would request. However, I’ll never forget the day I walked into my living room and saw my sweet 3 year old reading “Fwog” and Toad all by herself. (I actually have it on video). That was definitely a proud parent moment.
Step three, allow your children to make mistakes. The first time your child asks to read to you instead of you reading to them, they’re going to get it wrong. Although my daughter knew enough of the story to get some of the words correct, “fwog” definitely ad-libbed a few extra lines here and there. She even stopped to point out that “fwog” was sitting in a chair, and toad was sitting in a stool, which was nowhere in the story but showed that she was making her own connections! Allow your child to use pictures and what they remember of the story to come up with their own special version, and praise praise praise when they’re finished!
Step four, don’t save reading for bedtime only. A perfect moment for reading can happen anytime! Picking up a book with your child allows them to calm down, relax, and focus. It also offers a moment of physical closeness. Keep books in the living room, play room, or even out on the porch.
Step five, eliminate all pressure! Children will learn to read at their own pace. There’s enough pressure in school to learn phonics, grammar, and the I before E rule that only applies to a handful of words. Allow reading at home to be a pressure free zone. Encourage your child to read books they enjoy, even if they seem a bit lower than where their reading level “should” be. Keep in mind that the fun in reading begins to fade when the pressure goes up.
References:
The New York Times- How to raise a reader https://www.nytimes.com/guides/books/how-to-raise-a-reader